NEWS: Democracy Quest: Russia

www.appeal-democrat.com

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Thursday on new efforts to keep nuclear arms out of dangerous hands, but their sharp differences over Russian backsliding on democracy spilled into an open and sometimes-prickly exchange.

...Putin compared his move to end direct popular election of regional governors to the American Electoral College process of electing presidents. "It's not considered undemocratic, is it?" Putin said.

Bush was challenged as well, fielding questions from Russian journalists doubting American democracy.

"I'm perfectly comfortable in telling you, our country is one that safeguards human rights and human dignity, and we resolve our disputes in a peaceful way," Bush said sharply.

Russian officials dislike what they see as U.S. meddling in their internal affairs and in former Soviet republics where Moscow's influence is waning as some new leaders look westward.

But just as Bush wants to protect a vital partnership on security issues, Putin walks a careful line because of his desire not to harm Russia's chances of membership in the World Trade Organization.

Bush and Putin said they were in unison on the importance of stopping suspected nuclear weapons programs in North Korea and Iran. They remained in disagreement over Russian arms sales to Syria, which the United States wants halted, said a senior administration official.

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"Incensed by U.S. talk of a lack of press freedom in Russia, two Russian reporters tried to turn the tables on President Bush during his summit news conference with Vladimir Putin Thursday. ...the reporter then turned on Putin and demanded to know why he was not sticking up for Russian reporters by talking about violations of the rights of American journalists.

Earlier another reporter, for Russia's Kommersant daily which is often critical of Putin, said America's democracy was also faulty and Bush should account for some limits on personal freedoms imposed after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks."

Who Says We're Not Free?





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