Bush – Putin Summit

The presidents of the USA and Russian met at Bratislava castle in the afternoon. As expected, the meeting of the two presidents lasted for only 2,5 hours, not the 4 hours originally planned. Both Presidents agreed on the following ideas: Iran and North Korea should not have atomic weapons at their disposal, plus that peace in the Mid-East must be secured.

Any reversion to a totalitarian regime in Russia is impossible, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the press conference after meeting his American counterpart George Bush. Putin added that Russia on its own decided 14 years ago to follow the democratic direction, and there is no possibility to go backwards now. He also thanked his American counterpart for accepting the invitation to the celebrations in Moscow on May 9, held to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII.

At the summit, George Bush promised Vladimir Putin US assistance to speed up the negotiations concerning Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation. Regarding democracy in Russia, US president said:

Earlier in the day, US Foreign Minister Condoleezza Rice and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov signed an agreement to control portable anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missiles. Recently Russia confirmed that it would sell such weapons to Syria in spite of warnings by Israel and USA.

Today at noon, George Bush greeted up to 10 000 people at Hviezdoslav square in Slovak. In the presence of top Slovak officials, George Bush appreciated Slovakia's efforts on its path to democracy. He also revealed that the US has prepared a new Solidarity Initiative programme for nations like Slovakia that are standing with America in the war on terror.

“We will help to improve your military forces so we can strengthen our ability to work together in the course of freedom.”

US President George W. Bush praised Slovakia's tax policy and the introduction of the flat-tax, according to Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda. "It was good to listen to President Bush when he told me in my office that the flat-rate tax is his dream," Dzurinda told a news conference.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. American President George W. Bush concluded his European tour and left Bratislava for Washington. This was the first visit by an American president to Slovakia.

The last Russian president to visit Slovakia was Boris Jelcin in 1993. However, Russian president Vladimir Putin started his first official visit to this country right after the summit with George Bush. His Friday program includes a visit to the Slovak Parliament as well as placing wreaths at the Slavin monument to WWII soldiers.

Following their husbands, the first ladies of the US and Russia had a busy program too. Earlier in the day, Laura Bush attended the opening of the American information and cultural center called Info USA Bratislava. Later she was joined by Lyudmila Putina. The first ladies inspected the unique collection of tapestries woven by the royal weaving mill in Mortlake (near London) and sign their names into the Golden Book of Bratislava.