Bush and Putin Hold Farewell Talks

U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their presumably final summit in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi Saturday and Sunday.

The Russian state-run media RIA Novosti said the two leaders displayed their friendship at the talks at an unofficial dinner and breakfast hosted by Putin.

While watching a Russian folk dance at Putin’s vacation home after dinner, Bush said, “I’m only happy that my press corps didn’t see me try to dance the dance I was asked to do.”

Putin said, “I am sorry for them. (Had they seen you), they would have surprised to see what a good dancer you are.”

In the talks, Putin, who will step down as president in a month, treated his guest with great hospitality and often displayed signs of their close friendship. Bush will leave office in nine months.

Watching the sunset at Sochi, Putin nudged Bush. Bush then asked, “Why does the mountain surrounding Sochi have the same name as my wife Laura?”

Putin jokingly answered, “We named it for you.”

The two leaders held a news conference at the end of their talks Sunday afternoon. They signed a strategic framework to guide the relations between Washington and Moscow.

They also narrowed differences in divisive matters such as the U.S. missile defense plan in Eastern Europe and Kosovo’s independence.

Some diplomats in Moscow said the summit reaped unexpected results behind the scenes.

One said, “President Bush must have traded the missile defense plan for recognition of the next Russian administration under President-elect Dmitry Medvedev.”

President Bush also held a meeting with Medvedev Sunday.

viyonz@donga.com