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Skriven 2007-06-07 23:30:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0706077) for Thu, 2007 Jun 7
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President Bush Meets with President Vladimir Putin of Russia
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 7, 2007

President Bush Meets with President Vladimir Putin of Russia Kempinski
Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, Germany

˙˙White House News

˙˙˙˙˙ G8 Summit 2007

4:07 P.M. (Local)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Vladimir and I just had a very constructive dialogue,
particularly about missile defense. He expressed his concerns to me. He is
concerned that the missile defense system is not an act that a friend would
do. He made some interesting suggestions. As a result of our discussions,
we both agreed to have a strategic dialogue, a opportunity to share ideas
and concerns between our State Department, Defense Department and military
people.

This will be a serious set of strategic discussions. This is a serious
issue and we want to make sure that we all understand each other's
positions very clearly. As a result of these conversations, I expect there
to be better understanding of the technologies involved and the
opportunities to work together.

I told Vladimir we're looking forward to having him up to my folks' place
in Maine the beginning of July. And we'll be able to continue our
discussions, our bilateral discussions on a variety of issues.

PRESIDENT PUTIN: (As translated.) I'd like to confirm what the President of
the United States has just said -- except for one thing. I have not said
that friends do not act in this way. (Laughter.) We have an understanding,
as well as common threats. But we have differences. The difference is ways
and means in which we can overcome these threats. We considered the
proposal by the American side very thoroughly. And we have ideas of our
own. I have stated these ideas in a thorough way.

The first proposal is to use the radar station rented by us in Azerbaijan
which is entitled Gabala. Yesterday I had a conversation of this matter
with the President of Azerbaijan. The existing agreement with Azerbaijan
makes it possible for us to do this. And the President of Azerbaijan
stressed that he will be only glad to contribute to the cause of global
security and stability.

We can do it automatically, in an automatic regime. And in this case, the
system which is to be constructed can cover not only part of Europe but the
entire Europe without any exception. This will fully exclude the
possibility for the missile debris to fall on European states because they
will fall in the ocean. This will make it possible for us not to change our
stance on targeting our missiles. On the contrary. This will create
necessary grounds for common work.

But this work should be multifaceted with the engagement of states
concerned in Europe. And we agreed with George that our experts will start
doing it as soon as possible. This will make it impossible -- unnecessary
for us to place our offensive complexes along the borders with Europe. And
this will make unnecessary to place the appropriate American complexes in
outer space.

But we hope that these consultations will not serve as cover, to cover some
unilateral actions, and I have told George about that. Because as soon as a
country, for instance, Iran, carries out its first test of its long-range
missile, our reconnaissance means, and American reconnaissance means will
register this immediately. Three to five years will be necessary from the
first test until the system is operational. This time is fairly enough to
deploy any ABM system. Therefore, no matter how long our talks are going
on, we will never be late. The major thing for these negotiations is that
they should be viewed and should take into account joint interests in the
security area.

I'm grateful to the President of the United States for a constructive
dialogue today.

PRESIDENT BUSH: We'll answer one question apiece. Toby. Then we got to go
to a meeting.

Q President Putin, are you saying now that you do not consider the missile
defense issue a serious threat to your country anymore? And were you
satisfied with what President Bush presented to you in this meeting?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: (As translated.) I think that if we work together to
overcome the threats we are discussing today, and if we take into account
the concerns of each other, if we make this work transparent and if we
provide for an equal access to the system then we'll have -- through the
management of this system -- then we will have no problem. And I'm, of
course, satisfied with the spirit of openness in which we discussed this
problem today on behalf of President of the United States.

Q My question is for both Presidents. In your today's dialogue what was
more, constructive things, or rather differences? What prevailed?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, you just heard, that the desire to work together to
allay people's fears. There's a lot of people who don't like it when Russia
and the United States argue, and it creates tensions. Russia is a great
country, and so is the United States. It's much better to work together
than it is to create tensions.

Thanks. See you later.

END 4:15 P.M. (Local.)
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