US PRESIDENT George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sought to put relations on a stronger footing with mutual assurances there will be no new Cold War.
Known to admire each other's frankness and toughness, the two leaders emphasised cooperation as they began winding down an uneasy partnership frayed by rising tensions. The two men began three days of farewell meetings at a gathering of Nato leaders
in Bucharest, Romania.
Bush referred to himself and Putin as "two old warhorses" nearing the end of their presidencies, a Bush aide said after the closed-door session. Still, harsh differences divide Moscow and Washington, particularly on security issues.
For his part, Putin made clear he was unhappy about the eastward expansion of the Western military alliance toward Russia. But he summed up his message to Bush and Nato on Friday: "Let's be friends, guys, and engage in an honest dialogue."
It was a striking change from Russia's once-angry threats to target missiles on Western capitals and Putin's drive to clamp down on democracy, expand control of the government and the economy, and quash independent news media.
After the talks in Bucharest, Bush flew to Croatia's capital, Zagreb, to celebrate Nato's membership invitations to the Balkan countries of Croatia and Albania and an expected future offer for Macedonia to join.
In his toast at dinner to welcome Bush, Croatian President Stipe Mesic, a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq, appeared to take a jab at the president by insisting that problems like terrorism, global warming and environmental destruction must be addressed jointly.
Bush, in his toast, congratulated Croatia on its Nato membership and praised it for sending troops to Afghanistan.
At a square in downtown Zagreb – far from the heavily guarded venues being used for the Bush visit – about 250 people held an anti-war protest, holding banners reading 'USA Nato imperialism' and 'The United States of Aggression'.
Bush was in Russia for a social dinner with Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi yesterday, and today they will meet for the last time before the Russian leader steps down on May 7.
Putin's hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, will take part in some of the discussions. Putin is expected to continue to wield substantial power as Medvedev's prime minister.
It was seven years ago in June that Bush famously declared he had looked into Putin's soul and found him to be honest, straightforward and trustworthy. Relations grew stronger when Putin stood with the US after the 9/11 attacks. But the era of cooperation quickly began to unravel.
On Friday, Putin urged Nato leaders to listen to Russia's concerns, particularly its objections to Nato's plans to admit the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Georgia. "The emergence of the powerful military bloc at our borders will be seen as a direct threat to Russia's security," said Putin.
"I heard them saying today that the expansion is not directed against Russia. But it's the potential, not intentions, that matters.
"The efficiency of our co-operation will depend on whether Nato members take Russia's interests into account. We want to be heard, and we want see problems that divide us solved."
He ruled out a new Cold War, insisting that Moscow wants to be friends with Nato. "None of the global players – Europe, the United States or Russia – is interested in returning to the past," said Putin. "And we have no ideological differences."
He highlighted Russia's agreement to facilitate transit of supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan across Russian territory, while the White House said Bush repeated his frequent assurances that the Cold War is over and Russia is not the enemy.
Bush and Putin are expected to announce a "strategic framework" to guide relations towards a less rocky future.
A major area of dispute is Bush's plan to build a missile defence shield in Europe to protect against what the US sees as an emerging threat from Iran and other adversaries. Russia regards it as a move to undercut its nuclear deterrent.
Despite its strong rhetoric, Russia appears to accept that it is unlikely to stop the system.
Bomber fireThe crew of the US B-1 bomber which caught fire after landing at an air base in Qatar on Friday escaped without injury said the United States Air Force (USAF) yesterday.
Fire erupted as the plane taxied after landing at al Udeid Air Base early on Friday evening after what the Air Force described as "a ground incident".
"The crew evacuated the aircraft and is safe. The fire was contained," USAF said in a statement. A board of inquiry has been appointed to investigate.
Earlier, a US defence official said the B-1 had crashed and the cause was unknown. The official was responding to a report on Qatar-based Al Jazeera television that said the plane was a B-52.
The B-1 is a long-range bomber aircraft capable of flying intercontinental missions without refuelling and is able to penetrate sophisticated defensive networks. US defence officials gave few details about the incident.
The full article contains 855 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
