U.S. President George W. Bush smiles during the ceremonial groundbreaking of the U.S. Institute of Peace on Navy Hill in Washington June 5, 2008.
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Bush Treads Down Russia’s Tracks in Europe
U.S. President George W. Bush heads for Slovenia today to attend the U.S.-EU summit. Afterwards, he will visit key nations of Europe, Germany, Italy, France and Britain to win their support on a wide range of issues, starting from the NATO expansion to diversification of energy supplies routes, the situation in Abkhazia and relations with Russia. It appears the last European journey of the U.S. president is aimed at building a counterbalance to the European trips of Russia’s ruling tandem.
The timing of the last big European journey of U.S. President George Bush is interesting. It happens in the wake of France tour of the RF Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and German trip of Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev. During those trips, the key purpose of the Russians was to win Europe’s maximum support in the major international issues, which are yet the stumbling block of Moscow and Washington.
NATO’s expansion, energy safety in Europe and the situation on post-Soviet territory, first of all the conflict of Georgia and Abkhazia, will be in the limelight of Ljubljana summit of the United States and the European Union. But exactly those topics were the highlight of the recent European negotiations of Medvedev and Putin. As to George Bush, he will surely act as opponent to Russia’s ruling tandem.
To begin with, Bush will challenge Moscow efforts to present Russia as a reliable energy partner. For this purpose, he is expected to promote diversification of energy route to the Western Europe, urging Europe to bring momentum to Nabucco project for supplying gas of Central Asia. The discussion of Georgia-Abkhazia’s clashes will be equally tough.
“The leaders will discuss how best to support President Saakashvili and his peace initiatives on Abkhazia, and encourage, in particular, direct talks between the Georgian government and the Abkhaz. We expect the leaders will also join in urging Russia to reverse its provocative actions in the separatist regions and to respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty,” National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said in the press briefing dedicated to the president's trip to Europe.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 09, 2008
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