As has been the habit of successive US Presidents about ushering in and protecting democracy around the world, Mr George Walker Bush has said that he would be ‘firm’ with the Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin, regarding ‘freedoms,’ in his country though he had the decency to say he would not lecture the latter and would be respectful to him. His comments came a day after Mr Putin accused the Western critics of Russia’s record on democracy and parroting colonialist rhetoric. Mr Putin made it clear that it was unacceptable for the West to raise the issue as a pretext to interfere in his country’s affairs. Mr Bush took it upon himself to say that it was his job to continue reminding Russia that if she wanted to have good relations she must share common values. Mr Bush said that he would tell Mr Putin during their private meetings on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in St Petersburg that non-governmental organizations should be allowed to function without ‘intimidation’ as also about certain democratic institutions. Mr Bush added that he would be firm in his belief about the need for there to be an active civil society in Russia.



Mr Bush on his first visit to Germany since Mrs Angela Merkel took over as Chancellor last year was addressing a joint press conference with Mrs Merkel in the Baltic port of Stralsund when he made these remarks. Mr Bush spent time in the former East Germany where Mrs Merkel grew up in her parliamentary constituency of Stralsund.



Mr Bush being invited to Stralsund is seen as a sign of close personal relationship between the two leaders. Mrs Merkel has already visited Washington twice since coming to power. Analysts are of the view that the US has already become Germany’s most important partner outside the European Union.



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