Bush arrives for G8, to push Putin on democracy

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 14: President George W Bush arrived in Russia today planning to press President Vladimir Putin at a weekend G8 summit over concerns the Kremlin is curbing the rights of the Russian opposition and media.

After pledging to ''continually remind Russia'' that good ties with the West depend on sharing common democratic values, Bush flew to St Petersburg from Germany, a day before a meeting of the Group of Eight leading industrial nations.

Bush was to dine with Putin in the evening and was also scheduled to meet activists from non-governmental organisations as part of an attempt to urge Russia to ease restrictions it recently placed on such groups.

There were no details on which groups he would meet. He has promised to raise his concerns over freedoms ''in a respectful way'', and not to lecture Putin.

Bush and Putin forged a bond in 2001 over the fight against terrorism, but since then US criticism of Putin's record on democracy has become a major source of tension.

The issue could overshadow the annual G8 summit, also attended by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada, whose agenda includes world energy supplies and other global problems.

While neither Bush nor Putin is likely to give ground over US complaints on Russia's democracy record, both have an interest in keeping their squabbling to a minimum, at least in public.

Playing host in his birthplace of St Petersburg to the G8 for the first time, Putin wants to showcase Russia's clout as an energy superpower through discussions on energy security.

Bush is trying to enlist Russia's support for a tougher stance toward the nuclear ambitions of both Iran and North Korea.

The G8 also must weigh its response to the crisis that has erupted in the Middle East after the capture by Hizbollah fighters of two Israeli soldiers and reprisal attacks by Israel on parts of Lebanon.

MIDDLE EAST The escalation of violence there will take some of the focus off US-Russian tensions over democracy, said Charles Kupchan, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. ''There is less room for a clash between Bush and Putin than there might be otherwise,'' Kupchan said.

He said Bush was sure to tone down criticism so as not to embarrass Putin on his home ground.

Before the summit formally opens, Bush and Putin and their wives will have dinner at the lavish Constantine Palace. Weighty topics will probably be reserved for a meeting between the two leaders tomorrow and a working lunch.

If it is agreed in time, Bush and Putin will sign a trade greement paving the way for Russia to join the World Trade Organisation. The two countries are also expected to announce the start of talks toward a deal on civilian nuclear energy cooperation.

Talks on Russia's WTO bid resumed on Friday morning in Moscow but broke off for the negotiators -- US Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Russian Economy Minister German Gref -- to fly to St Petersburg, where they were to continue.

''We are going to continue to negotiate throughout the day,'' Schwab's spokesman Sean Spicer said. ''There are still several issues that are unresolved but Ambassador Schwab and Mr Gref will continue to talk.'' Putin, a former Soviet spy, has said Russia will not tolerate anyone using the democracy issue to interfere in Russia's domestic affairs, but has added that Russia is ready to listen to ''well-intentioned criticism''.

Russia says it will not stop anyone staging legitimate protests during the G8 summit. It has set aside a sports stadium for protesters to stage an alternative G8 forum. But forum organisers said Russian police have detained activists en route at train stations and airports.

REUTERS