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Putin says he never sought to be president

Putin said that when he takes up a matter, he tries either to bring it to a logical end or produce the maximum possible result

MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he had never sought to be a president and this is why he had not amended the Constitution even though he could have done it easily.

“I had never strived for this job, understanding a large amount of work and tremendous responsibility,” Putin said in an interview with three federal television channels.

Putin said that when he takes up a matter, he tries either to bring it to a logical end or produce the maximum possible result.

He recalled that when he was president for two consecutive terms in 2000-2008, he disagreed to turn for a third term. “I did not cling to that job even though I could have easily amended the Constitution [so that one person could remain president for mote than two consecutive terms], but I did not do that for a concrete person – I mean myself,” the prime minister said.

“This is for people to understand that there is no tragedy in a change, a natural change of power,” he added.