This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6723671.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush criticises Russia on reform | Bush criticises Russia on reform |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has criticised Russia for "derailing" its promised democratic reforms. | US President George W Bush has criticised Russia for "derailing" its promised democratic reforms. |
| Speaking in the Czech Republic, Mr Bush said the US had strong working relations with Russia and China, but there were also "strong disagreements". | Speaking in the Czech Republic, Mr Bush said the US had strong working relations with Russia and China, but there were also "strong disagreements". |
| Mr Bush is en route to Germany for a G8 summit which threatens to be overshadowed by US-Russia tensions. | Mr Bush is en route to Germany for a G8 summit which threatens to be overshadowed by US-Russia tensions. |
| Mr Bush earlier said Russia had nothing to fear from a missile defence system, the cause of much of the tension. | Mr Bush earlier said Russia had nothing to fear from a missile defence system, the cause of much of the tension. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim weapons at Europe if the system is developed, in comments seen as reminiscent of Cold War rhetoric. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to aim weapons at Europe if the system is developed, in comments seen as reminiscent of Cold War rhetoric. |
| If standing for liberty in the world makes me a dissident, then I'll wear the title with pride George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6721389.stm">BBC reporter's tour diary class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6717927.stm">New discord set to last | |
| In a speech in Prague focused on global democracy, Mr Bush said the US friendship with Russia and China was "complex". | In a speech in Prague focused on global democracy, Mr Bush said the US friendship with Russia and China was "complex". |
| He said: "In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development." | He said: "In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development." |
| Mr Bush also said the US disagreed with China's leaders who "believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without also opening its political system". | |
| Mr Bush said that although societies developed "at different speeds", certain democratic values were universal. | Mr Bush said that although societies developed "at different speeds", certain democratic values were universal. |
| name="goback"> | |
| See map of US missile defence bases | |
| He said: "The United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values." | |
| The president also called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of dissidents in such nations as Belarus, Burma and Cuba. | |
| If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we will have to have new targets in Europe Vladimir Putin Q&A: US missile defence Send us your comments | |
| He listed these nations, along with North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Iran and Syria as the "worst dictatorships" and criticised Venezuela, Uzbekistan and Vietnam for rolling back earlier "freedom". | |
| Mr Bush said he had been accused of being a "dissident president" for pledging the US "to the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world". | |
| He said: "If standing for liberty in the world makes me a dissident, then I'll wear the title with pride." | |
| Cold War 'over' | |
| The Czech Republic is the planned site for a radar base that will form part of the US missile defence shield. Interceptor missiles are planned to be deployed in Poland. | |
| Mr Bush, who is expected to meet Mr Putin in Germany, said the new system was a "purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia but at true threats". | |
| He said the Cold War was over and Russia was not an enemy of the US. | |
| Mr Putin has scoffed at US claims the shield is designed to counter threats from states such as North Korea and Iran, suggesting it was targeting Russia. | |
| "If the American nuclear potential grows in European territory, we will have to have new targets in Europe," Mr Putin warned. | |
| Return to top |