By Michael Stott
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin, playing downrecent hawkish statements from Moscow, said on Thursday Russiadid not plan a conflict with the West and would not point itsmissiles at any state unless it had to.
"We are not going to retarget anything at anyone withoutextreme necessity," Putin told journalists at his annualKremlin news conference. "We plan no conflicts (with the West)and we hope this will not happen in the foreseeable future."
Putin said earlier this week Russia might target Ukraine ifits former Soviet neighbour joined NATO and deployed elementsof a U.S. missile defence shield. He has made similar threatsabout missile shield deployment against Poland and the CzechRepublic.
The news conference in the Kremlin's Round Hall, which wastelevised live, was Putin's seventh and was expected to be thelast before his second term in office ends in May.
Russia holds presidential elections next month which arewidely expected to be won by Putin's chosen successor, FirstDeputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Asked whether he had considered staying in power longer,Putin said it was "absolutely unacceptable" for him to cling topower for life.
"I had no intention to stay for a third term, never," Putintold journalists. "From the first day I assumed office as thepresident of the Russian Federation, I have always said I willfollow the law."
Russia's constitution limits presidents to two consecutiveterms, although Putin's domestic popularity has led to callsfrom supporters for him to change the constitution and stay on.
Speaking on a raised platform in front of a backgrounddecorated with Russia's national colours and flanked eitherside by two giant television screens, Putin said it was "notshameful or frightening" for him to plan to hand over toMedvedev.
He began the news conference by reeling off statisticsdescribing Russia's economic boom, which has lasted throughouthis presidency.
Real incomes, pensions and living standards had all risen,he said, though close attention needed to be paid to inflation,now running at around 12 percent.
"I do not see any serious failures," Putin told aquestioner. "All the tasks we set ourselves have beenachieved".
Putin, a youthful 55, intends to remain active in politicsafter his presidential term ends and has said he will becomeMedvedev's prime minister.
Officials said that a record 1,364 journalists wereaccredited for the news conference, an annual marathon carriedlive on state television across Russia.
Last year's news conference lasted three hours 32 minutesand Putin fielded more than 60 questions on subjects rangingfrom the presidential succession to the idea of setting up anOPEC-style gas producers' group with Iran and other nations.
(Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
