Bush, Putin united on nuke-free “axis of evil”
US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin faced reporters on Saturday after two days of in-depth talks at a mini summit at Camp David.
Issues debated at the presidential retreat outside Washington covered global terrorism, post-war Iraq, a nuclear-armed Iran, Chechnya, and the “road map” for peace in the Middle East.
Both leaders sent out a clear message to North Korea, Kim Jong II’s reclusive communist state, to completely, verifiably and irreversibly end its nuclear weapons programmes.
Mr Bush said: “We share a goal and that is to make sure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon. We also understand that we need to work together to convince Iran to abandon any ambition she may have.”
Fellow “axis of evil” member, Iran was similarly told in no uncertain terms to verify that it had no plans to develop nuclear weapons.
Mr Bush and his Russian counterpart tried to present a united front over the sticky issue of funding the reconstruction of post-war Iraq. Mr Putin previously made it clear he opposed the US-led war to oust Saddam Hussein and wanted more say by the UN in the rebuilding effort. Mr Putin wants a new UN resolution before deciding whether to send Russian troops to Iraq.
Mr Putin played down the sale of nuclear technology to Iran. Russia has helped Tehran build a $800 million power plant in southern Iran.
The Russian leader, speaking through an interpreter, said: “I would like to reiterate that Russia has no desire and no plans to contribute in any way to the creation of weapons of mass destruction either in Iran or in any other spot, region of the world. I would like to reiterate that we comply firmly with the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty because this course is in our national interest.”
The two leaders also discussed Russia’s oil reserves, which are perceived by the Bush administration as a less volatile alternative to Middle Eastern supplies.
Mr Bush also said the world was a safer place without the former Iraqi dictator Saddam: “The world is safer today because, in Iraq, our coalition ended a regime that cultivated ties to terror while it built weapons of mass destruction.”
Mr Bush offered support to Russia’s approach to Chechen separatists, saying terrorists must be stopped in their tracks anywhere on the globe.
