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Putin Parries Bush's Comments on Democracy in Russia
By Sergei Blagov
CNSNews.com Correspondent
February 23, 2005

Moscow (CNSNews.com) -- Ahead of a summit with President Bush in Slovakia, Russian President Vladimir Putin has fended off strong comments by his American counterpart about the Kremlin's shifts towards authoritarianism.

Bush called on European leaders this week to join him in urging Putin to embrace political reform, and to challenge him on recent measures such as restrictions on press freedom and the centralizing of power.

But in an interview with Slovak media, Putin said the principles and institutions of democracy "must be adapted to the realities of Russian life today, to our traditions and our history. And we will do this ourselves."

When it came to democracy and human rights, he added, Russia had 14 years ago "made a choice in favor of democracy -- not to please anyone, but for its own sake, for the sake of Russian citizens."

Putin said he did not expect anything "extraordinary" from Thursday's summit in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, but felt it nonetheless important because of the "broad common agenda with the U.S." in the areas of economics, international security and the fight against terror.

He expected the agenda to include discussions on North Korea's nuclear programs and the Middle East.

The U.S. is unhappy about Russia's assistance to Iran's nuclear programs, and about Russian plans to sell missiles to Syria.

Speaking to Russian reporters about the meeting with Putin, Bush said personal friendship between the two leaders was key in U.S.-Russian ties.

"We are friends. This is important for good negotiations, for the sides to understand each other and the decision-making process," the Russian news agency quoted him as saying.

"I want to talk to him to ask him why he does this or that, and I suspect he wants to ask me the same questions."

Bush said Monday the U.S. and European nations should put democratic reform at the heart of their dialogue with Moscow.

"We must always remind Russia ... that our alliance stands for a free press, a vital opposition, the sharing of power and rule of law."

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov did not respond directly Tuesday to Bush's comments on democracy in Russia, noting instead that the president had highlighted the need to strengthen the Russia-U.S. and Russia-EU partnership to face terrorism and weapons of mass destruction proliferation.

Russian foreign policy experts predict that the Bush-Putin meeting will help ease differences between the two governments.

"The summit should come as a starting point for new relations," said Alexander Konovalov, head of the Strategic Assessment Institute, a Moscow-based thinktank.

"The summit must have a broad agenda outlining our relations for 30 to 40 years to come," he said.

Anatoly Tsyganov, head of the Center of Military Forecast, another Moscow thinktank, said the meeting was necessary "to forestall a cooling of relations between Russia and the United States."

According to a recent National Public Opinion Research Center poll, 38 percent of Russians believe U.S.-Russia relations remain "normal," while 30 percent see them as "cool" or "strained."

In general, 59 percent regard bilateral relations in a positive light and 34 percent in a negative light.