Sing4Him
April 1st, 2008, 11:31 AM
Bush looking forward to final meeting with Putin
Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:34am EDT
KIEV (Reuters) - President Bush said on Tuesday he was looking forward to his last official meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a few days, saying the Kremlin chief had proved a strong leader and "I like him."
Bush, who like Putin is in the twilight of his presidency, famously declared after his first encounter with the Russian leader in 2001 that he trusted him after gaining a "sense of his soul."
Critics later derided that statement as naive as Putin took steps they said curbed democratic freedoms in Russia.
On Tuesday, Bush said nothing about trust, but defended his policy of engaging Putin, saying it was important to the world that the United States had a working relationship with Russia.
"This will be my last chance ...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL0171024720080401
Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:34am EDT
KIEV (Reuters) - President Bush said on Tuesday he was looking forward to his last official meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a few days, saying the Kremlin chief had proved a strong leader and "I like him."
Bush, who like Putin is in the twilight of his presidency, famously declared after his first encounter with the Russian leader in 2001 that he trusted him after gaining a "sense of his soul."
Critics later derided that statement as naive as Putin took steps they said curbed democratic freedoms in Russia.
On Tuesday, Bush said nothing about trust, but defended his policy of engaging Putin, saying it was important to the world that the United States had a working relationship with Russia.
"This will be my last chance ...
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL0171024720080401