Bush to raise democracy issues with Putin at G8 Web posted at: 3/30/2006 1:59:49 Source ::: AFP
WASHINGTON: US President George W Bush yesterday vowed to raise the issue of democracy and human rights when he meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Group of Eight summit in St Petersburg this summer.
Bush also dismissed calls for him to boycott the July summit being hosted for the first time by Russia, as a means of expressing Western concerns about Putin's bid to concentrate power in the Kremlin and his slide away from democracy.
"I think that would be a mistake for the United States not to go to the G8," Bush said in a speech at Freedom House, an independent organization dedicated to promoting democracy around the world. "Because I need to be in a position where I can sit down with him (Putin) and be very frank about our concerns."
Bush said he has spent much time impressing upon the Russian leader that "he should not fear democracy on his border nor should he fear democracy within his borders."
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