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CNN Sunday Morning

White House Pleased With Bush's European Tour

Aired June 17, 2001 - 10:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin this hour with a look at the results of President Bush's European trip and his first meeting yesterday with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Kelly Wallace is at the White House this morning with an assessment. Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brian.

Well, the White House is feeling quite good about this past week, a week in which the president had to face some skeptical European allies; also, the skeptical Russian leader with many Europeans and Russians quite concerned that the U.S. president is trying to go it alone when it comes to contentious issues, such as building a missile defense system.

Now, as for Mr. Bush, he was up bright and early this morning on this Father's Day, apparently going to church with his wife, Laura, not the video you're seeing there. But he was up, going to church this morning.

And this after, really, the highlight of his trip, yesterday's meeting, his first face-to-face meeting, with Russian president Vladimir Putin. The president and Mr. Putin apparently developing an unusually warm relationship. Mr. Bush calling Mr. Putin someone who he found to be very straightforward and trustworthy.

Now, as for this contentious issue, U.S. plans to try to amend or scrap the anti-ballistic missile treaty between the U.S. and Russia so that the U.S. can pursue a missile defense system. Well, Secretary of State Colin Powell said today that while the Russian president still views that treaty as the cornerstone of arms control, he did show a willingness to discuss the issue further with the Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: They want to talk about it. They want to hear. They want to listen. They want to see more. They want to know about what we have in mind. And so I think there are opportunities to move forward. But, are they holding to their position? Yes. Are we holding to our position, that it's time to move forward? Yes. And now we have to begin the dialogue between these two nations. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And that dialogue will include Secretary Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, having conversations with their counterparts in Russia. Also, Mr. Bush has invited Mr. Putin for another summit, this one this fall at his Texas ranch in Crawford. Mr. Putin reciprocating, inviting the U.S. leader to make a trip to Russia as well.

Now, besides Russia, the U.S. president definitely had to deal with some concerns from European allies during his trip, many Europeans quite concerned that U.S. plans to build a system that would basically attack any income ballistic missiles, to knock them down, would fuel an international arms race in space.

The president, meeting with the other members of NATO in Belgium earlier this week. U.S. officials, though, coming out of those meetings saying there appears to be a new receptivity to the president's proposal, pointing to countries such as Italy and Poland and Hungary, who seem to think this is the right way to go. Still, though, many countries, such as France and Germany, are still skeptical and somewhat critical.

Also, overall, Europeans still very, very concerned about Mr. Bush's plans when it comes to another issue, his rejection of the international treaty to deal with global warming, the president saying that the science is not there. Again, though, Brian, the big challenge for this president, again, is to make sure to the Europeans that he's not just listening, but that he's taking their views into account -- Brian.

NELSON: Alright, Kelly, thanks very much. Kelly Wallace, whose at the White House this morning. Appreciate it.

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