Russia-US gap too wide to be bridged
Updated: 2008-04-07 16:37
Strategic Framework on Guide Ties
Bush and Putin, in spite of several outstanding issues, signed a "strategic framework" to guide future bilateral relations after the one-day summit.
Perino said the framework would deal with security cooperation, nonproliferation issues, anti-terrorism and economic matters.
Despite his alert on the US-led move aimed at Russia by the Western military, Putin seems unwilling to see a return of the Cold War, and has thus put forward some suggestions for cooperation with the West, for instance the joint use of a radar in Azerbaijan, and coordinated its actions with the West in some aspects, such as agreeing to facilitate the transit of supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan across Russian territory.
At a news conference after meeting with NATO leaders Friday, Putin said none of "the global players -- Europe, the United States or Russia -- is interested in returning to the past."
"And we have no ideological differences," he added.
What Putin wants is to enlarge Russia's influence on the international stage, defend the national interest as much as possible, develop Russia's economy and promote its comprehensive national strength and, at the same time, try to seek cooperation opportunities with the West despite differences with it.
Bush earlier said he hopes for "heart-to-heart" approaches in his last heads-of-state meeting with Putin, scheduled to be succeeded on May 7 by Dmitri Medvedev, who analysts believe will continue with his predecessor's domestic and foreign policies.
The 28th meeting between Bush and Putin over seven years, by Russia's count, more or less signaled some gesture for improving mutual ties. But the summit appeared to see more broad language than detailed achievements, as the two countries have been at odds over major strategic matters which are too significant to be bridged by just gestures and smiles.
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