Putin extremely disappointed in Bush after G8 summit
The leaders of the countries participating in the summit in St Petersburg have shown strict devotion to their national interests. It became clear that the Europeans were most interested in whether Russia, one of the main world sources of oil, will be able to guarantee continuity in supplying the European Union, an important energy consumer. According to all sources, the European leaders received this guarantee and were satisfied.
The USA was interested in Russia’s readiness to concede on some key questions regarding their entry into the global market, concerning the nuclear business, agricultural industry complexes and other spheres. Vladimir Putin has not changed his position; the Russian powers are obliged first of all to take into account their national interests, and George Bush practically admitted that it will be difficult for any country that does not concede to the USA to come to an agreement with them.
The main news for Russian spectators of the summit was the crisis in the relation between two friends: Vladimir Putin was clearly unable to hide his disappointment in his “friend”, George W. Bush, although he insisted that warm relations were being maintained.
Russia was not the only country to demonstrate a dazzling level of preparation for the meeting: immediately preceding the summit, the USA and Israel contrived an unmistakable scheme: the actions of Iran, Syria and the Hezbollah terrorists which unfolded in Lebanon were almost certainly miscalculated and subtly provoked. The principal of organized conflict almost always goes smoothly. Russia had no chance, although, in its turn, it also did much to assure that the summit would proceed on a highly organized level.
As a result of the loudly announced rescue of two Israeli soldiers, humanitarian questions within the bounds of the G8 (energy security, public health and education) were reprioritized to a second level, to use the expression of the president of the USA, a more philosophical one. Even the anti-terrorism dialogue, during which the setting up of appropriate systems of agreement for the coordination of actions at the time of situations such as the Lebanese one were to be established, was washed away. As a result, it became clear that NATO needs no additional international agreements concerning joint actions during terrorist attacks, apart from those that already exist within the bounds of the alliance itself.
Aside from this, the USA showed a genuine sense of humor, having played a dirty trick on Russia (the shining demand of refusal to audit American pork), that practically tore off negotiations about Russia’s entry into the WTO.
Translated by Leila Wilmers
Pravda.Ru
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