Putin Set On Visiting USA, Whatever Happen - 12 November, 2001 - News

Russia's President Vladimir Putin will not change his US visit schedule, whatever happen, says Alexei Gromov, his press spokesman. President Putin is starting for the USA tonight to stay into Thursday, November 15. His liner is to land at the Andrews air base late at night, local time, reports Sergei Prikhodko, second in charge of the Kremlin staff. Vladimir and Ludmilla Putin will put up at the Blair House, US Administration visitor residence opposite the White House. The official visit starts tomorrow morning as Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin meet at the White House. President Putin knows about the JFK tragedy, Mr. Gromov said shortly before. The American Airlines jumbo tragedy is blamed on an engine failure, says the Fox television. The federal air administration has no grounds to suspect a terror act. All three New York City airports are closed, and Manhattan-bound bridges and tunnels blocked for safety reasons. Mayor Giuliani is hurrying to the site in Queens.