Putin/Bush summit to cement friendship

Putin to be “flexible” on ABM treaty. Bush to reduce nuclear arsenal “substantially”.

President Vladimir Putin declared in an interview with the American ABC programme 20/20 that he was prepared to be “quite flexible” regarding progress on existing positions concerning the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

This treaty banned the testing and setting up of national anti-missile defence systems. However, President Putin declared that there is a “negotiating platform, starting from which we could reach agreement”.

This agreement could be a reduction in nuclear warheads which currently stand at 7,013 (USA) and 5,858 (Russian Federation). President Bush has already declared that “We don’t need an arms-control agreement to convince us to reduce our nuclear weapons down substantially, and I’m going to do it”.

The personal chemistry between Vladimir Putin and the other world leaders is highly positive, a fact which does not exclude the President of the United States of America. “I believe it is not accidental that he became the President of the United States. He sees better and deeper and understands the problem more accurately”, the Russian President declared in the interview.

Vladimir Putin’s administration decided a long time ago that the best way forward for Russia is friendly relations with all countries, not just one block. This is seen as the only the way to foster peace and development in the world and to stimulate Russia’s economy. The spirit of a new world order exists and the fact that this is centred in part on Moscow is a triumph for Vladimir Putin and Russian diplomacy.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru