Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force.

I wish that in the course of my visit to places the Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] calls home, all of a sudden, we would reach a clear understanding on how we can resolve the matters. We will be very glad if that happens. Are there any chances? Perhaps.

Berlusconi is being tried because he lives with women. If he was homosexual, no one would have lifted a finger against him.

Russia itself is a European country, and not just because our major political and economic centres are in Europe, but because Russian culture is primarily European culture.

The strengthening of our statehood is, at times, deliberately interpreted as authoritarianism.

As to our trade and economic relations with China, they are growing more and more diverse each day, something we have worked on for a long time with our partners from China.

If someone wants to open this Pandora's box and deal with it, all right, go for it then.