Bush, Putin break ice but announce no breakthroughs

BRDO PRI KRANJU (SLOVENIA) June 17: US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin parted with a cautious embrace after a straightforward inaugural meeting that broke the ice but underlined disputes that have tarnished recent relations.

Putin, controlled and pragmatic, remained unwavering in his opposition to US missile defense plans and NATO expansion toward Russia’s borders. Bush, affable and upbeat, praised Putin as "a man Americans can trust."

Though Putin delighted in an invitation to Bush’s ranch in Texas this autumn and the men shared compliments, no documents were signed and there was little sign of breakthroughs.

For both sides the brief chance to meet face-to-face was turning point, amid tensions over arms control, spy scandals and Russia’s cooperation with Iran. Now they can get down to crafting specific deals and policies, aides say.

"I was able to get a sense of his soul," Bush said. "We talked straightforward. Nothing was rejected out of hand ... And there was a receptivity that I was most pleased to see."

The Presidents looked relieved as they left a joint news conference for a glass of champagne on the terrace of the BRDO castle before departure.

The meeting closed Bush’s five-day, five-nation maiden tour of Europe, where he encountered skepticism from allies over his missile defense policy, global warming, trade and capital punishment.

The meeting closed Bush’s five-day, five-nation maiden tour of Europe, where he encountered skepticism from allies over his missile defense policy, global warming, trade and capital punishment.

In reiterating the US argument in favour of missile defence, Bush said it would be aimed at "rogue states" that also threaten Russia.

Bush insisted that relations would not hinge on missile defence, and stressed that he and Putin also talked about other things, such as conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East, Afghanistan - an breakaway Chechnya, where Russia has come under international criticism for alleged abuses by its troops.

Bush chafed at a question about what incentives he might have offered Putin to gain Russian acquiescence. White House aides had said in advance that Bush was prepared to offer Putin inducements such as arms purchases, military aid and joint anti-missile exercises with Russia.

"We didn’t have a bargaining session. We had a session between two men who came to office for the right purpose," Bush said.

They also discussed ways to improve foreign investment in Russia, and Bush paid Putin an impressive compliment: "I was so impressed that (Putin) was able to simplify his tax code in Russia with a flat tax. I’m not so sure I’ll have the same success with Congress, Bush said.

Putin called the ABM Treaty the "cornerstone of the modern architecture of international security" and added, "any unilateral actions can only make more complicated various problems and issues."

Bush returned to Washington yesterday night. (AP)

Brown urges Rocca to include KPs issue in Indo-Pak talks

WASHINGTON, June 17: Congressman and founder of India Caucus has urged the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca to make "special efforts" to ensure that the issue of Kashmiri Pandits is addressed by both India and Pakistan during their forthcoming summit.

"The plight of the Kashmiri Pandits is unique and most unfortunate," Sherrod Brown told Rocca.

Quoting the annual State Department report on human rights, Brown says the "attacks by Muslim militants seeking to end Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir and continuing political violence has driven out almost 95 per cent of Hindus (Pandits) in the Kashmir Valley to seek refuge in camps in Jammu, with relatives in New Delhi and elsewhere during the last few years."

Such turmoil, involving practically the entire ethnic community, he said, "has no parallels in the subcontinent".

"The forced exodus was a direct outcome of ethnic cleansing initiated by Taliban-inspired Islamic zealots and armed terrorists bent on driving off hispanic and other minorities from Kashmir," he pointed out, adding even after being driven out, Pandits have been targeted in a manner so as to ensure they do not attempt to return to their ancestral lands."

Kashmiri Pandits, says Brown have never resorted to violence in return, even though they have been victimized by the Mujahideen.

Brown said "the fate of this minority community should be the barometer to gauge the sincerity of the two nations in resolving the Kashmir dispute."

Unless conditions are created to stimulate return of Pandits to Kashmir and steps are taken to guarantee their survival and way of life within the Kashmir Valley, there can be no satisfactory closure to the Kashmir dispute, he said.

Brown also lauded the Bush administration’s efforts in bringing the two countries together on the negotiating table.

"I would like to convey my appreciation for the efforts made by you and the US Government to encourage dialogue between India and Pakistan to settle their differences peacefully." (PTI)

Pak bid to alter its image fails at Shanghai summit

BEIJING, June 17: Pakistan’s attempt to alter its image as abettor of Islamic extremism in Afghanistan seems to have backfired with the newly-established Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) taking no decision on Islamabad’s application for membership while admitting Uzbekistan.

"Pakistan’s attempts to join SCO seems to have backfired with no unanimity within SCO on Islamabad’s membership bid," a diplomatic source commented on the June 14-15 summit of SCO comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in Shanghai.

"Some of SCO members seem to have questioned Islamabad’s credentials to become fellow member since it aids and abets international terrorism and religious extremism," he said.

Diplomatic sources said even China, Pakistan’s staunch ally, seems to have dithered in backing Islamabad’s membership in SCO, a regional cooperative mechanism, which came out sharply against terrorist and religious fundamentalist forces in Central Asia.

"We welcome cooperation of any country willing to abide by the aims and principles of Shanghai five and whose joining is of benefit to the healthy development of Shanghai five," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told PTI.

"But, the precondition is that all members must reach unanimity through consultation (on the joining of any such country)," Sun said indicating China’s changed stance in view of opposition to Pakistan’s membership from countries like Russia.

The latest Chinese statement on Pakistan’s bid is in stark contrast to the backing Islamabad received prior to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s official visit to Pakistan in May.

Director General of Chinese Foreign Ministry Fu Ying had earlier said if Pakistan’s membership issue came up formally before the Shanghai five, China would support Islamabad’s bid to join the group.

Diplomatic sources said all six members of SCO are seriously concerned about the threat of separatist violence, supported by Taliban in Afghanistan and militant groups in Pakistan.

Russia is fighting a bitter conflict against rebels in Chechnya. In the past, Russia has asked Pakistan not to send Islamic terrorists in Chechnya. Uzbekistan is also fighting fundamentalist forces in the country.

China is facing its own brand of Islamic separatism in the oil-rich north-western region of Xinjiang, where ethnic Uygur militants have carried out assassinations and bombings against Chinese rule.

According to SCO agreement, the six countries would join hands to crackdown on terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The "three evil forces" were threatening the territorial integrity and security of the six countries and their political, economic and social stability, the leaders were quoted as saying by the official Chinese media.

SCO member States also announced to set up an anti-terrorism centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (PTI)

Pak wants US to broker Delhi-Islamabad dialogue

WASHINGTON, June 17: Pakistan has said that the US should not become so focussed on forging a special relationship with India that it forgets Islamabad’s record as a steadfast ally and wants Washington to broker a dialogue between the two countries to discuss Kashmir and arms race in the region.

"The US should not become so focussed on forging a special relationship with India that it forgets Pakistan’s record as a steadfast ally or ignores the realities of the new global political scene in which broad alliances will be crucial," Pakistan’s ambassador to US Maleeha Lodhi told reporters at a preview of Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar’s visit’s agenda in Washington.

Asked what Pakistan expects of the US, she said, "America should broker a dialogue between India and Pakistan that would address problems such as Kashmir and a possible arms race between the two nations.

"America should help construct a South Asian security architecture that has four pillars - nuclear and missile restraint by India and Pakistan, conventional arms control in the region, peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes and sources of conflict, and economic and social revival of South Asia through regional cooperation and global integration," Lodhi said.

Lodhi also dismissed as "unfair" the White House and Congress’ charge that Islamabad was not being sufficiently vigilant about combating terrorist groups operating in the country.

"Cooperation in global counter-terrorism efforts," she insisted, is part of Pakistan’s international obligations and "we have done it to the best of our ability. We should be judged by that record.

"Some of the problems in the region are part of our joint legacy with the US. Our cooperation during the war in Afghanistan, it (pressuring Pakistan on the terrorism issue) is not the way to elicit cooperation from a country," Lodhi added. (PTI)

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