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CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Criticizes Russia Over Bombing

Aired August 24, 2002 - 18:02   ET

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

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And a rare move by the White House this weekend. The Bush administration is issuing a public criticism of Russia over the bombing of villages and the neighboring Republic of Georgia. Let's go right to senior White House correspondent John King. He's traveling with the president, of course. He's joining us from New Mexico.
John, what's the latest?

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Catherine, as you noted, a rare public review of President Bush and Putin say they have a very good relationship, but the White House condemning the bombing yesterday. It says Russian military aircraft bombed villages in its neighbor, Georgia, killing one person and wounding seven civilians.

The Russian government has denied this, but the White House in a very strongly worded statement says that observers from an organization called the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe have verified that it was Russian military jets that carried out these strikes. In a statement the White House says it is deeply concerned about Russian military aircraft indiscriminately bombing those villages.

The United States regrets this loss of life, the statement says, and deplores this violation of Georgia sovereignty. Now all of this is about Russia's effort to pursue what it says are Islamic militants from Chechnya. They cross into the border of Georgia. Russia has accused the Georgian government of being too soft in its pursuit of those militants.

Again, though, in this case, Russia denying any involvement. The White House saying flatly that Russia is responsible, urging Russia to apologize for the incident and also to try once again to reach a political dialogue to resolve the crisis in Chechnya. The bottom line, though, a very rare public rebuke, the Bush White House of the Russian government.

We're also told Secretary of State Colin Powell this afternoon called his counterpart, the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, to voice the president and Washington's displeasure - Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Yes and it brings to the forefront, as you said, that the Chechnya crisis needs to be settled, doesn't it?

KING: It does and it also is a reminder Georgia in the past has asked for help from the United States and as we speak in recent months, U.S. military trainers are in those areas helping the Georgian military in its pursuit of fundamentalists, Islamic (UNINTELLIGIBLE) rugged terrain between the border of Russia and Georgia, and there are U.S. military personnel there.

This crisis, of course, goes back for years. President Putin has promised to bring it under control, but in recent weeks we have seen an escalation of the violence of the Russian military in the Chechnya region. In this case, though, the White House saying Russia went too far in crossing into bordering Georgia.

CALLAWAY: You know, not only that, there were strong words from the Bush administration. John, you've got to wonder, what does this mean to the Bush-Putin relationship?

KING: Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary, telling reporters just a few moments ago don't read too much into this, that yes, the White House is very concerned, about this, but it is keeping the criticism focused on this one episode because it will not have a negative impact on the overall U.S.-Russia relationship. Ari Fleischer saying President Putin and Russia remain credible partners in the ongoing war against terrorism, and in his speech here today, the president making light, but saying it is a good thing that Russia and the United States have recently resolved a trade dispute over sales of U.S. chickens to Russia.

So overall, the White House says the relationship is solid, but in this case the White House using very strong words, telling Russia it should not send its military across another sovereign state's borders.

CALLAWAY: Yes, if only all they had to argue about was chickens, we'd all be in a better spot. Thank you. CNN's John King in New Mexico with the president. Thanks, John.

KING: Thank you.

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