- Bush-Putin 2001
The so called Slovenian Summit was the first meeting between the
U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush and theRussia n PresidentVladimir Putin . It took place on June 16th2001 on theBrdo pri Kranju estate in northernSlovenia . It was hosted by the thenPrime Minister of Slovenia Janez Drnovšek and by thePresident of Slovenia Milan Kučan .They were meant to discuss a wide range of political issues and establish a diplomatic ase for future cooperation and negotiations. This was also G.W.Bush's first official trip to
Europe as U.S. President.Before Bush and Putin met privately, each met with Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek and President Milan Kučan. The Slovenes' talks with Putin focused on the situation in South Eastern Europe, particularly in
Macedonia . Kučan familiarized Putin with the agreement reached Friday inSkopje to begin a dialog on constitutional adjustments.Speaking with Bush, Drnovšek and Kučan focused on
NATO expansion and partnership among Europe, the US and Russia. Unfortunately, Bush did not go so far as to offer an invitation for membership in NATO as many suspected. He simply reiterated the stance he had taken earlier in his trip, that he supports NATO expansion and is sure that at the summit next year inPrague new members will be invited.After the meetings,
Reuters quoted Bush as saying "I would urge people looking for a good vacation spot to come here." The American president was apparently quite impressed with Drnovšek, Kučan and Slovenia itself, and publicly thanked Drnovšek 'for his hospitality in this spectacular, beautiful country.'" [http://www.ce-review.org/01/23/pozun23.html Central and East European Politics Review]The summit was judged a success by both sides even though it left Russia and the US little closer to resolving the issues that divided them. The atmosphere was one of friendly co-operation with the two leaders getting on far better than expected. The warmth of the meeting surprised many. The first handshake looked stiff and awkward, but after well over an hour of talks they came out smiling with Mr Bush inviting the Russian leader to visit his
ranch inTexas . Mr Bush described their meeting as straightforward and effective. He said it was time to move beyondCold War attitudes, away from mutually assured destruction towards mutually earned respect. "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul. He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country and I appreciate very much the frank dialogue and that's the beginning of a very constructive relationship," Mr Bush said.Mr Putin also seemed to suggest these two very different leaders had built up a rapport. Echoing Mr Bush he called the United States Russia's partner. Warm words, unthinkable just a few months ago. The Russian leader said both their countries bore a special responsibility for maintaining world peace and security. However he warned that any unilateral action would make that process more complicated - a signal that difficult discussions on NATO and the US missile defence system still lay ahead.
American agenda
* The following were the key talking points of the U.S. delegation according to Ariel Cohen [ [http://www.heritage.org/Research/RussiaandEurasia/BG1447.cfm An Agenda for the Bush-Putin Summit in Slovenia ] ] :
* Further reductions of their strategic
nuclear arsenal s;* The spread of Russian weapons of mass destruction and related technologies to proliferators such as
China and rogue states such asNorth Korea ,Iran , andIraq ;* The U.S.-led development and deployment of a global
missile defense ;* The consequences of establishing formal regional alliances with China, Iran, or other states hostile to the United States;
* The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
New Independent States (NIS), especiallyUkraine and Georgia;* Economic ties and Russia's accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO); and* Efforts to limit freedom of the press in Russia and Russia's generally poor track record on
human rights inChechnya .External links
* [http://www.ljubljana-summit.gov.si/en/index.html Official Site of the Meeting]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1392791.stm BBC News Story on the Meeting]
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010618.html The White House's page on the Meeting]References
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