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CNN Saturday Morning News

Expectations Low for First Bush, Putin Meeting

Aired June 16, 2001 - 08:00   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where President Bush and President Putin are getting ready for their first face-to-face meeting. Both men arrived at the site of their summit, the 16th century Brdo Castle, a short time ago.

CNN senior White House correspondent John King is there and joins us now to explain what's ahead for the next several days and hours -- hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra. Good morning back in the United States.

As you mentioned, both of the leaders now here in Slovenia. Let's call this a mini-summit, if you will. They will spend about two hours together in talks, their first meeting, Mr. Bush arriving first here in Slovenia, coming down the steps of Air Force One, being greeted by Slovenian officials. For Mr. Bush, of course, at this meeting, he says he wants to talk about missile defense. Russia has objected to the U.S. missile defense program.

Mr. Bush wants to make the case that that program would in no way be a threat to Russia, or, just as he did make that case in the past few days, saying it would be in no way a threat to the European allies. Mr. Bush, we're told, also wants to raise concerns about Russian sales of military technology, including missile technology, to Iran. Mr. Bush will protest and ask Mr. Putin to do something about that. Mr. Bush also will raise U.S. concerns about a recent crackdown on press freedoms in Russia, some in the administration questioning the commitment of a man who was the former KGB chief to democracy.

Now, Mr. Putin came in a little bit after Mr. Bush, arriving right on schedule as well. From his perspective, this administration, the Bush administration, taking a much tougher line when it comes to economic assistance to the Russian government. Mr. Putin wants to speak to Mr. Bush about that. Also, Mr. Putin has voiced grave concerns about developments that Mr. Bush supports, the expansion of the NATO alliance and the European Union as well, to include many former Soviet satellite states.

So the two leaders with a lot to discuss but again they will be together just about two hours, both sides saying they view this most of all as a getting to know you session, Mr. Bush telling reporters just yesterday in Poland he wanted to size the Russian president up, wanted most of all to convince him that he and his administration by no means consider Russia to be the enemy, Mr. Bush saying he hopes beginning from this meeting that in the soon near future he will be able to call Mr. Putin a friend -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, our John King live in Slovenia. We'll continue to follow the action today. Thanks, John.

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