Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin today (May 7, 2004) began his second four-year term in office pledging to transform Russia into a "mighty but peace-loving" nation and provide the people a better quality of life.

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After taking the oath of office at a solemn ceremony in the ornate St Andrews Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, 51-year old Putin called upon the people to be united in confronting the challenges faced by the country.

"In critical situations, the Russian people demonstrated their best patriotic and civil approach when they fought for the territorial integrity of the country and created prerequisites for the growth of Russia's economic potential.

"Being together, we have reached high rates of economic growth and managed to overcome rather serious ideological differences...we ourselves have stopped the aggression of international terrorists and averted the real threat of disintegration of the country," Putin said before an august gathering of about 1700 guests, including diplomats.

He said the main goal of his second term was to "achieve a principally better quality of life of our people achieve real, palpable growth in their well-being".

He said the success and prosperity of Russia cannot and must not depend on one person, one political force. "We must have a wide base of support for continuation of transformation of the country. I am confident that a mature civic society is the best guarantee for this continuity," he said.

Only the free people in a free nation can succeed, Putin, who was re-elected for the second four-year term at March 14 Presidential polls, said.