detonate.net - Bush's Next War

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions and expressed concern over Iran's nuclear program.

"We strongly urge North Korea to visibly, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program," Bush told a joint news conference after the two leaders met privately for 45 minutes inside Konstantin Palace.

"We are concerned about Iran's advanced nuclear program and urge Iran to comply in full with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

Bush said both the United States and Russia were "determined to meet the threats of weapons of mass destruction."

It was the first meeting between the two leaders since the U.S.-led Iraq war, which Russia opposed.

Both leaders, seated at twin white desks for the palace news conference, said they were putting the dispute behind them.

The "fundamentals of the relations between the United States and Russia turned out to be stronger than the forces and events that tested it," Putin said, as Bush nodded in agreement.

Added Bush: "We are working closely to confront the challenges of our time. ... Both of our countries have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists, and our governments are taking action to confront this threat."

When asked about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Bush said: "We've discovered weapons systems, biological labs, that Iraq denied she had, and labs that were prohibited under the U.N. resolutions."

Earlier this weekend, Bush pointed to two mobile laboratories found in Iraq which U.S. intelligence concluded were probably designed to produce biological weapons, The Associated Press reported. However, both the Pentagon and U.S. weapons hunters have said the labs do not constitute arms.

Putin did not offer any opinion on whether weapons of mass destruction would be found in Iraq.

But British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in an interview with Sky News, said he had "no doubt whatever that the evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction will be there. Absolutely."

Blair said he had already seen plenty of information that his critics had not, but would in due course.

"Over the coming weeks and months we will assemble this evidence and then we will give it to people," he said. "I have no doubt whatever that the evidence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction will be there."

CNN Link

Differences over Iran

At their news conference, Bush and Putin were asked about Russia's sale of nuclear technology to Iran, which Washington claims is helping Iran develop nuclear weapons -- a claim Russia denies. Iran also says its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful development of electrical energy.

"Russia and the United States have mutual concerns about the advanced Iranian nuclear program," Bush said.

"We understand the consequences of Iran having a nuclear weapon and therefore we want to work together ... to make sure they do not have a nuclear weapon.

"I appreciate Vladimir Putin's understanding of the issue, and his willingness to work with me and others to resolve this."

Putin, however, said the spread of nuclear weapons should be prevented "not just in Iran but in other regions," and had some pointed words on the subject.

"We are against using the pretext of a nuclear weapons program (in Iran) as an instrument of unfair competition against us," he said.

"The position of Russia and the United States on the issue are much closer than they seem. We need no convincing about the fact that weapons of mass destruction proliferation should be checked and prevented throughout the world."

The two leaders also appeared to express a difference of opinion on Russia's future in Iraq's oil industry.

Having played a role in Iraq's oil sector before the war, Putin offered "all our expertise, experience and resources" to keep his country involved.

Bush acknowledged Russia's experience and history but said "the Iraqi people will make the decision that is in their best interests" concerning Iraq's oil industry.

Bush and Putin signed papers certifying that both countries have formally ratified last year's Treaty of Moscow, an agreement to reduce arsenals on both sides by two-thirds.

The U.S. Senate passed it earlier this year, and the Russian parliament ratified it last month.

Bush, who was in Russia's second city for the finale of St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary celebrations, invited Putin to Camp David in September.

Sunday's bilateral talks come ahead of the Group of Eight (G-8) summit starting later Sunday in the French resort town of Evian. (Full story)

At the French-Swiss border, security forces were mounting an extensive operation Sunday to shield the G-8 summit from anti-capitalist protests.

Riot police and anti-globalization protesters clashed in Annemasse, a community set aside for demonstrators near the conference site.

CNN Full Story