Putin relationship complicated, common goals

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) President George W Bush said today that his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin was complicated, but they shared the common goal of convincing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.

His comments at a news conference came after Putin on Saturday accused the United States of attempting to force its will on the world, a view shared by some other countries.

Bush said the two leaders have had their agreements and disagreements, but Putin was still ''the same strong-willed person'' as when the US president made a now-famous remark about looking into his soul in 2001.

Putin said the United States was making the world a more dangerous place by pursuing policies aimed at making it ''one single master.'' White House officials have said privately they were surprised by the Russian leader's remarks.

The United States has criticized Russia's record on democracy, and Russia sees the expansion of NATO as a threat to its own security.

Bush said he tried to convince Putin that NATO was a positive influence and that ''democracies on your border are good things to have,'' but the Russian leader disagreed with that assessment.

There were also areas where Russia and the United States could work together, Bush said, calling efforts to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions one of those ''common goals that make sense for both our peoples.'' Bush also praised Russia for its part in the nuclear deal with North Korea hammered out this week in Beijing.

''So it's a complicated relationship. It's a relationship in which there are disagreements. But there's also a relationship in which we can find common ground to solve problems,'' Bush said. ''And that's the spirit I'll continue to work with Vladimir Putin on.'' Reuters AD VP0355