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CNN Saturday Morning News
President Bush Soon to be Heading to Russia
Aired May 31, 2003 - 07:03 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, President Bush shortly leaves the country that supported the war on Iraq for one that didn't. Mr. Bush is sounding conciliatory ahead of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Bush is scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg two hours from now.
And as CNN's Jill Dougherty reports, the summit will be a sidelight in that city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Sailboats on the River Nybai (ph) in St. Petersburg, as graceful as Russian dancers, all part of celebrations for the city that just turned 300 years old and this weekend will host a summit between the Russian and American presidents.
Vladimir Putin stood by George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks but publicly opposed the war in Iraq. Russians strolling along the river say it's good they will meet again. "After these recent events, it seems to me relations have gotten really cold," Vasily Glasgo (ph), an engineer, tells me. "I think Americans should be a bit more humble and pay attention to the views of other countries."
Sergei Kaviloch (ph), a teacher at the Institute for Naval Communications, tells me he thinks it's too strong to call it anti- Americanism, but, he says, there were a lot of people who didn't agree with how Bush made his decisions.
(on camera): Holding the summit here in St. Petersburg is symbolic. After all, the city was founded as Russia's window to the West, and that's the message President Vladimir Putin wants to get across.
(voice-over): But one political expert says Mr. Putin undermined the U.S. administration's faith in Russia's loyalty.
DMITRI TRENIN, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think that the relationship, if it is patched up, and I think it's been patched up, will still be a very shallow relationship. Bush cares about his friendship with Putin, his friendship with Russia, if you like, but he is about the only one in the administration who really cares.
DOUGHERTY: Back along the river, artist Vladimir Proschke (ph) shows me his canvas. From his perspective, it is important their relationship is repaired. "You and I can be friends," he says, "but it's more important that the two presidents are friends, because if they are fighting, it has a big effect on all of us."
The waters have been rough lately, but the summit could bring more smooth sailing for the U.S.-Russia relationship.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, St. Petersburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, President Bush shortly leaves the country that supported the war on Iraq for one that didn't.>
Aired May 31, 2003 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, President Bush shortly leaves the country that supported the war on Iraq for one that didn't. Mr. Bush is sounding conciliatory ahead of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Bush is scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg two hours from now.
And as CNN's Jill Dougherty reports, the summit will be a sidelight in that city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Sailboats on the River Nybai (ph) in St. Petersburg, as graceful as Russian dancers, all part of celebrations for the city that just turned 300 years old and this weekend will host a summit between the Russian and American presidents.
Vladimir Putin stood by George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks but publicly opposed the war in Iraq. Russians strolling along the river say it's good they will meet again. "After these recent events, it seems to me relations have gotten really cold," Vasily Glasgo (ph), an engineer, tells me. "I think Americans should be a bit more humble and pay attention to the views of other countries."
Sergei Kaviloch (ph), a teacher at the Institute for Naval Communications, tells me he thinks it's too strong to call it anti- Americanism, but, he says, there were a lot of people who didn't agree with how Bush made his decisions.
(on camera): Holding the summit here in St. Petersburg is symbolic. After all, the city was founded as Russia's window to the West, and that's the message President Vladimir Putin wants to get across.
(voice-over): But one political expert says Mr. Putin undermined the U.S. administration's faith in Russia's loyalty.
DMITRI TRENIN, POLITICAL ANALYST: I think that the relationship, if it is patched up, and I think it's been patched up, will still be a very shallow relationship. Bush cares about his friendship with Putin, his friendship with Russia, if you like, but he is about the only one in the administration who really cares.
DOUGHERTY: Back along the river, artist Vladimir Proschke (ph) shows me his canvas. From his perspective, it is important their relationship is repaired. "You and I can be friends," he says, "but it's more important that the two presidents are friends, because if they are fighting, it has a big effect on all of us."
The waters have been rough lately, but the summit could bring more smooth sailing for the U.S.-Russia relationship.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, St. Petersburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, President Bush shortly leaves the country that supported the war on Iraq for one that didn't.>
