American Future - The Bush-Putin Summit
By Marc Schulman on Russia
Some reactions from the Russian media:
Yekaterina Grigoryeva
Izvestiya, Russia, February 25
The Bratislava summit was a model of civility in relations between two heads of state. The time of looking into each other's eyes, as was the case in Ljubljana [where the two leaders held their first meeting in 2001], is long gone. However, the style of relations established there persists: the presidents demonstrate that any latent (or sometimes open) confrontations pale before the force of their personal relations.
Arkadiy Dubnov
Vremya Novostey, Russia, February 25
If it was proper to ask who was the winner at the Bratislava summit ... I would venture to announce the Russian president ... Despite numerous statements by Mr Bush that he would confront Mr Putin on problems with democracy in Russia, the press heard nothing of the sort from the US president. Quite the opposite: Mr Bush radiated contentment and even pride at the assurances received from his 'friend Vladimir' that Russia continues to uphold the values of democracy and will not betray its choice, which it made 14 years ago.
During the press conference both Mr Bush and Mr Putin ... stressed their adherence to common values. However, Mr Bush did that somewhat too pointedly, as if apologising for something.
Semyon Novoprudsky
Gazeta, Russia, February 25
Mr Bush and Mr Putin looked into each others' eyes as if into a mirror. The future empire met with the old one ... Both are taking resolute strategic steps towards the same imperial theft ... [But] at least in Mr Bush's case there are several objective reasons for calling him an emperor: the world's most powerful economy is behind him. In Mr Putin's case there is nothing to justify his behaviour except his own personal inferiority complex and the inferiority complex of that part of the country whose worldview he reflects.
However, neither man is an emperor: they are merely leaders of two large but not great countries that are experiencing different stages of an identity crisis. In America's case it is a teenage crisis. In Russia's unfortunately it has gone beyond a midlife crisis.
I guess there's at least some freedom of the press in Russia. |
