|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 1 June 2003 |
 |
|
 |
World |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Russia's Putin launches summits aimed at healing Iraq rifts (AFP) More than 40 leaders from across Europe and Asia descended on Russian President Vladimir Putin's native city Friday for a series of summits aimed at healing rifts caused by the war in Iraq. A festive mood ruled this former imperial capital - even though rain fell despite expensive attempts to seed the clouds - as Putin grabbed the international spotlight in a bid to boost his profile on the world arena. Celebrations Friday marking the 300th anniversary of this majestic canal and promenade inspired city led Putin and the heads of state and government to the renowned Mariinsky theater. Putin then downed a rare shot of vodka along with his guests as they gently floated down the Neva River on a ship called the Silver Whisper while the sun stayed out late into the night. "I am thanking everyone for putting off their own affairs and for coming here for our celebrations," said Putin as he pronounced his toast. Renowned classical cellist Mstislav Rostropovich hobnobbed with a grin on his face amid the guests near Putin's table. The get-together also serves as an informal introduction to the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized nations summit in Evian, France on June 1 when many of the same leaders meet again. Putin opened the day Friday by meeting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at a judo match. As young athletes threw each other over their shoulders while Koizumi and Putin - a judo black belt - looked on, the Russian leader told his Japanese counterpart that relations between the two states had seen their worst. "People in Russia love Japan - their people, their history and culture," said Putin. "I think our main goal now is to give a push to the development of our relations," he added. Koizumi replied simply: "We understand each other." Ties between Russia and Japan have been tense for decades because of a dispute over four tiny windswept Kuril islands that the Soviet army took from Japan in the dying days of World War II. Russia and Japan have signed a truce but no formal peace treaty after the war and Japanese investment in Russia has been minimal as a result. Putin then hosted leaders from 12 former Soviet republics in talks that produced only a short declaration calling for a greater role for the international community in the reconstruction of Iraq. But despite Putin grabbing the central role over the weekend, the focus is likely to shift to bilateral meetings - or ones that do not happen at all. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a fierce opponent to the Iraq war, arrived Friday only to have to brush off questions about a possible meeting with US President George W. Bush, who lands here on Saturday. "Considering the important questions that are at the center of this (Russian) summit, it would not be fair to focus on how long my handshake (with Bush) will be," Schroeder told reporters. Meanwhile fellow "peace camp" member Jacques Chirac, the French president, said he would be glad to meet Bush - but not in Saint Petersburg. "I am very happy for the opportunity I will have in Evian to meet president Bush and we will discuss a whole range of problems in a most positive way," he said. Bush and Chirac have spoken on the telephone twice since the US-British invasion of Iraq - once in April and once last week. Putin, who formally meets Bush on Sunday morning, will have one of his tenser moments a day earlier when he hosts leaders from the European Union. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
