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Aussis Rudd reveals Bush-Putin argument at Opening Ceremony
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd witnessed a heated discussion between US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over Russia's invasion of a tiny neighbouring country as athletes paraded before them in the Opening Ceremony on Friday night.Mr Rudd revealed in an interview with Beijing Now in Beijing on Saturday that he was sitting just two rows behind Mr Bush when an "animated" discussion between he and Mr Putin broke out over Russia's advance into South Ossetia, a breakaway region in neighbouring Georgia. "The President and Mr Putin were in animated conversation two seats in front of us and I imagine they had a few things on their agenda," Mr Rudd said. Mr Rudd said that Mr Bush appeared to be making a strong point to the Russian Prime Minister, even as the world's elite athletes filed into Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium. Mr Rudd backed the US President's position. "Our position, like the Americans, is that it's important for peace and stability to return to this part of Georgia," he said. "We recognise and continue to recognise Georgia's soverignty over Ossetia and therefore it's important that Russia cease its military involvement. "This problem in Ossetia has been brewing for quite some time. Certainly the timing of the actions on the part of the Russians, that's a question best put to them. What I know is the international community is speaking with one voice in support of the cessation of hostilities by the Russians." Posted by: Sherry 2008-08-11 |
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