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Posted on 02/24/2005 4:09:14 PM PST by bd476
WASHINGTON - Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), the former KGB officer at the helm of Russia's fitful democratic experiment, and George Bush (news - web sites), leader of the world's most powerful democracy, delivered dueling civics lessons Thursday on the principles of free societies.
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Though cordial as they stood side by side, Bush and Putin addressed serious differences over what the West views as erosion of recent democratic freedoms in Russia.
At a news conference following their lengthy meeting in Slovakia, the leaders at first highlighted agreements designed to counter the spread of both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Neither stuck to the script.
"I live in a transparent country," Bush said at one point. "I live in a country where decisions made by government are wide open."
"The implementation of the principles and norms of democracy should not be accompanied by the collapse of the state and the impoverishment of the people," Putin said at another point. "The implementation and the strengthening of democracy on the Russian soil should not jeopardize the concept of democracy."
The leaders were responding to reporters' questions, but their remarks contained implicit criticism of one another's systems and expectations.
The session began with Bush praising Russia for its historic transformation from communism. Putin, his remarks translated into English, said Russia had made a firm choice for democracy and would not renege. Bush said he took Putin at his word.
Bush largely bit his tongue about the long list of U.S. concerns about Russia's path.
"For most of the rest of the world it must have seemed like the theater of the absurd to have Putin and Bush up there (debating) democracy," said Clifford Gaddy, a Russia expert at the Brookings Institution.
Perhaps odder still, Bush had the liberty tables turned on him under skeptical questioning from Russian journalists. They wanted to know about expansion of government security measures at the expense of personal freedom after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and about the extent of press freedoms in the United States.
The Russian questions changed the subject away from what U.S. officials call Putin's backsliding on basic freedoms.
"I'm perfectly comfortable in telling you, our country is one that safeguards human rights and human dignity, and we resolve our disputes in a peaceful way," Bush said with obvious irritation.
Putin ignored the implied contrast with Russia, and instead leapt to Bush's defense.
"I would like to support my American counterpart," Putin said, and then went on to parse differences among democratic governments in Russia, the United States and the Netherlands. Later, he gave a testy explanation of his changes to the Russian electoral system, and needled his U.S. critics in the process.
The new system is similar to the U.S. Electoral College (news - web sites), Putin said.
"It is not considered undemocratic, is it?" he said of the U.S. system with an edge in his voice.
The leaders called one another "Vladimir" and "George," but the session seemed a long way from one four years ago when Bush said he looked into Putin's soul and liked what he saw. Both men said they had a candid private discussion before the press conference, but there was no chummy backslapping afterward.
"This is the kind of fellow who, when he says yes he means yes, and when he says no he means no," Bush said of Putin. He said he respected Putin's unsubtle reaction to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites).
"He didn't kind of hedge, he didn't try to cloud up the issue. He made it abundantly clear to me that he didn't agree with my decision. And that's an important part of having a trustworthy relationship," Bush said.
Putin tried to follow suit.
"Some of the ideas — I wouldn't say, advice — but some of the ideas that I heard from my partner I respect a lot," Putin said. "I believe that some of his ideas could be taken into account in my work, and I will pay due attention to them, that's for sure. Some other ideas, I will not comment on."
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EDITOR'S NOTE — Anne Gearan is a diplomatic correspondent for The Associated Press.
Ping.
Nobody should assume anything based upon one press conference in which Presidents Bush & Putin fielded a few questions, said some nice things about each other, and shook hands and smiled.
There are without doubt many issues between America and Russia these days, but for the most part they no longer need to be viewed as our Number One Enemy. I wouldn't turn my back on any of them for a second (and they probably feel the same way about us), but as our late 40th President Ronald Reagan said so well,
"Trust but Verify".
And I'm sure we are doing both.
Not sure if you've been following the events in Bratislava, Slovakia but the Bush Putin 2005 Summit in Slovakia was a bit more than a press conference:
Text of Bush Putin 2005 Summit in Bratislava, Slovakia
We're on the map! (Slovakia's reaction to President George Bush and Putin Summit)
Analysis: Putin humiliated next to Bush
Bush Gets First Warm European Reception in Slovakia
Once Mighty Putin is looking vulnerable
President Bush and Putin News Conference 11:30 a.m. Live Thread
Bush Putin draft anti-nuke plan
Bush arrives for summit with Putin
Friends Bush Putin Exchange Barbs Before Meeting
Putin Parries Bush's Comments on Democracy in Russian
Putin Plans to Stand His Ground at Summit
Bush Putin Differ on State of Russian Democracy
Deciphering Putin: Autocrat? Democrat? The truth is more complex
There are more threads on this important Summit.
I'm sure it's hard for an entire country to go from "Father Knows Best" to "Elections" without problems. Sometimes, the people DON"T know best.
From the very small snippet of Putin's speech, that's what I heard him saying.
That's why we have regular, staggered elections of representatives. It keep change from happening too rapidly and with too much emotion. Both of those are problems with Rule by Tyrants.
Ping.
However, it's unclear that everyone in the Ukraine, or for that matter, Slovakia would agree.
Thank you I do not know if America news write this is very interesting
I hope CSPAN-2 carries all of Putin's remarks, translated, sometime late tonite, early morning. That's usually the only time to get a straight feed of what anyone said. CSPAN-2.
Anonymoussierra, it is unclear to me what you are saying in your response above. Please, can you clarify? Thanks. :)
bump / ping!
Actually there already is a written translated text account which I posted earlier today of the Joint Statements issued by President Bush and Putin as well as a translated text of their Press Conference.
Text of Bush Putin Comments, Joint Statements and Press Conference
I am sorry this is what I want write Putin is Putin I do feel Putin want talk what he feel America President want talk what he feel Problem is Rosja is very big country what work in Moskwie do not work in Wladywostok I do feel what Putin want talk is this:Rosja today is not Rosja in 1980 Thank you
Thank you anonymoussierra. :)
thanks for the ping- and thank you also for compiling the list of threads on this
RC
LOL, oh dear! Very interesting look on his face.
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