The Hindu : International : Iran, North Korea should not have nukes, say Bush and Putin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

International

International

Iran, North Korea should not have nukes, say Bush and Putin

BRATISLAVA (SLOVAKIA), FEB. 24. The United States President, George W. Bush, said today he had a ``very important and constructive'' dialogue with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and that the two leaders agreed Iran and North Korea should not acquire nuclear weapons.

Mr. Putin reaffirmed his Government's commitment to democracy, but cautioned that reforms would have to take into account Russia's complicated history and its efforts to recover from decades of communism.

Disputes over democracy ``must not be allowed to spoil'' relations with Washington, Mr. Putin said.

In their meeting at a medieval castle perched on a hill overlooking the Danube River, the two leaders embraced new measures to combat nuclear terrorism and better safeguard atomic weapons arsenals, U.S. administration officials said.

``We agreed that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. We agreed that North Korea should not have a nuclear weapon,'' Mr. Bush said as Mr. Putin stood by his side. He said he and Mr. Putin discussed how ``to continue to protect our people from attacks.''

``I know the agony, I know the sadness, I know the emotion that comes with innocent people losing their lives,'' Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Putin said he and Mr. Bush ``see no alternative to the constant strengthening of Russian-U.S. relations'' and had in common the threat posed by nuclear weaponry in the wrong hands.

``We have common opinions, common approaches'' on Iran and North Korea,'' Mr. Putin said in his first meeting with Mr. Bush since the U.S. President's inauguration for a second term.

Russia and the United States must ``neutralise any attempts by terrorists to acquire weapons of mass destruction,'' Mr. Putin said.

He thanked Mr. Bush for accepting his invitation to attend the May 9 World War II victory celebrations in Moscow.

Mr. Bush said he appreciated the frank nature of his talks with Mr. Putin.

``You know what he says — `yes' means yes and `no' means no. Sometimes in politics, `yes' means `maybe,''' Mr. Bush said.

The U.S. leader said he confronted Mr. Putin on Russian backsliding in areas such as freedom of the press, and that the pair had an open discussion. Alluding to the sensitive nature of that part of their talks, Mr. Putin said Russia has made a final decision in favour of democracy, ``and there can be no return.''

But he added that democratic principles must fit Russia's history and present level of development.

``It must not lead to the collapse of the state and the impoverishment of the people,'' he said.

``Russia has made its choice in favour of democracy,'' Mr. Putin said. ``This is our final choice and there is no way back, there can be no return to what we used to have. We are not going to make up, to invent any kind of special Russian democracy.

``We are going to commit to the fundamental principles that have been established in the world.'' — AP

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