| Submit your comments on this article |
| International-UN-NGOs |
| Bush and Putin downplay differences on North Korea, Iran |
| 2005-09-17 |
| President Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia tried to play down some obvious differences between them today, declaring that they agreed on the importance of keeping Iran and North Korea free of nuclear weapons. "We both, we have the same goal," Mr. Bush said as he stood beside the Russian leader. "We don't want the Iranians to have nuclear weapons, and we don't want the North Koreans to have nuclear weapons. We talked about ways to achieve those goals." But it was clear, despite Mr. Putin's statement that Russia's position was "very close with the American partners here," that some significant disagreements remained. Perhaps Mr. Putin hinted at that when he said, according to a translator, "On our part, I'd like to point out the potential of diplomatic solutions to all these questions is far from being exhausted." A crucial difference on Iran is the United States' desire to have Iran's suspected nuclear weapons activities brought before the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions. Mr. Putin has said recently that, while Russia agreed that Iran needed to be kept from making nuclear arms, it was too early to take up the matter at the United Nations. Russia has been participating, along with the United States, in the six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear aspirations. Those on-again, off-again sessions have seemed to be stalled of late, with North Korea complaining frequently about supposed provocations by the United States. Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin, standing in a White House setting resplendent with the flags of their respective countries, shook hands, referred to each other often as "Vladimir" and "George" and shook hands after the brief question-and-answer session with reporters. And Mr. Putin nodded occasionally in apparent agreement as he listened to a translation of Mr. Bush's remarks. The two men said they had discussed a broad range of issues, including economic ties between their countries, particularly in energy, and Russia's desire to become part of the World Trade Organization. Mr. Bush said he hoped Russian membership in the W.T.O. could be assured by the end of the year. Mr. Bush said the United States and Russia were united in their struggle against terrorism. Both countries have known the September horror of terror attacks, Mr. Bush noted - the United States in 2001, and Russia in 2004, with the slaughter of schoolchildren in Beslan. Mr. Bush said he appreciated the Russian's expression of sympathy, during their private conversation today, for the loss of life and destruction along the Gulf Coast. Mr. Putin said publicly, through a translator, that he wanted "to relay the words of most sincere compassion and support to the American people with regards to the strikes of mother nature." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |