George and Vladimir overcome differences for 'quality time' summit

News, September 2003, www.aljazeerah.info

Jordan Times, Sunday, September 28, 2003

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (AFP) — George and Vladimir may not agree about everything, but the leaders of the world's two military superpowers hit it off again at their latest summit Saturday.

Iraq has caused bitter divisions between the United States and France and other old European allies — but Russian President Vladimir Putin opposed the Iraq war and got away with it.

Russia is building an $800 million nuclear reactor for Iran, but after discussing the hot topic with President George W. Bush, Putin took the lead in sending a "clear but respectful signal" to the Iranian leadership over its nuclear ambitions.

Putin has been to the White House and eaten barbecue at Bush's Texas ranch. This time the pair had two days of intimate talks at the Camp David presidential retreat.

"I'm honoured to have him here, and I appreciate the great dialogue we've had last night and today," Bush said at the start of a press conference with the Russian leader.

At the end, they were both asked how the Washington-Moscow relationship had managed to survive the bruising diplomatic battles over Iraq in recent months.

Bush, whose popularity slumped during that period, insisted the answer was “trust.”

"Listen, I — Vladimir and I, had some very frank discussions about Iraq. I understood his position. He understood mine. Because we've got a trustworthy relationship, we're able to move beyond any disagreement over a single issue.

"Plus, I like him, he's a good fellow to spend quality time with."

Putin took up the theme.

"Thank you George for your warm words," he replied. "I would like to confirm everything that has been said by the president, and to send him a response."

Putin importantly added that on top of the warm personal relationship between the two leaders of a similar generation — Bush is 57 and Putin is just coming up to his 51st birthday — the two nations have no choice but to get on.

"There are two reasons why such problems between our states and between us, personally, have not emerged. We had differences over Iraq, in terms of practical ways how to resolve this problem, but we had an understanding on the essence of this problem.

"And the second and the most important point, fundamental interests of our two countries are much more solid, are much stronger than the developments that you have just mentioned.

"And in our actions, we wish to be guided by these strategic interests of our two countries, without excessive emotions or ambitions."

Russian rights activists had appealed to Bush before the summit to take a tough line on Putin's record on democracy, saying Washington has become too focused on keeping a diplomatic line open to Moscow and letting Putin's rights record slip.

"We have already learned that what Putin says in the West and does in Russia are two completely different things," said former democratic Russian lawmaker Lev Ponomaryov, head of a human rights group, before the summit.

One group ran an advertisement in major Western newspapers this week pleading for Bush to ask Putin "seven questions" about freedoms in Russia under his rule. The advert, rights activists claimed, was not accepted by any Russian newspaper. But Bush insisted on casting aside "old suspicions." "I respect President Putin's vision for Russia: A country at peace within its borders, with its neighbours, and with the world, a country in which democracy and freedom and rule of law thrive," Bush said.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

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