Putin says he is not seeking power

KALUGA, Russia, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin denies his bid for president in the country's election next year is a quest for power.

Putin, who served as president for eight-plus years prior to becoming prime minister in 2008, said his campaign to return to the office is not about hanging on to power, but to fix the weak state of Russia's institutions, the BBC reported.

During a meeting of experts from around the world to discuss Russian politics Friday, Putin said, "We'd like there to be more internal resilience, so we can hand over power with a politically mature system. But it's not easy and it takes time. We weren't dissembling, [President Dmitry] Medvedev and I, when four years ago we said what happens next will depend on what the political situation is. Both of us, we're not after personal power in this, we just want to build a stronger system."

Most experts at the meeting in Kaluga, Russia, expressed concern about the stagnation that could result should Putin be elected, RIA Novosti reported.

Alexander Rahr, director of the Berthold Beitz Center for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said Putin dismissed their concerns.

"Putin effectively told us that we don't understand and don't see how successful his leadership has been for Russia," Rahr said. "He is confident that whatever was done by him was done right."

Putin will be officially nominated for president by the United Russia Party at its congress in Moscow Nov. 27, ITAR-Tass reported.

"Then main item [on the agenda] is the nomination of the presidential candidate," the party's Executive Committee head, Andrei Vorobyov, said Saturday.

About 11,000 delegates and guests are expected to attend the forum, as well as 850 journalists.

"There is a tremendous interest. Everybody is waiting to see it," Vorobyov said.