On Russia's newly elected president Vladimir Putin

It is understandable that restoring law and order is very important in Russia. However, Putin aroused fear that his administration might be repressive and authoritarian with the hailing from the intelligence community and the strict control of the media during the Russian incursion into Chechnya.

His appeal for "a strong state" may have been an expedient way to pander to the Russian's warped nationalist sentiment. But the international community is biting its nails over what Russia's new leader is aiming at.

... As Putin told the voters, Russia's position in international relations depends on how the country carries out domestic reform. Reconstructing the economy is more important than playing with rhetoric of a great power. Overseas investment into Russia is also dependent on how successfully domestic reform is carried out.

Putin must enforce reform if only to regain the Russian people's pride as a nation.

-- Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo,