July 03, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 17, 1428

KENNEBUNKPORT (Maine), July 2: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave President George W. Bush more alternatives on Monday for reshaping a missile defence system fiercely opposed by Moscow. Bush said the United States still wants to anchor the missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

It was unclear whether the United States considered Putin's ideas acceptable. The two leaders, meeting at the oceanfront compound of Bush's father, sought to restart US-Russian relations after months of acrimony.

“Do I trust him?” Bush said of Putin, standing alongside the Russian leader on the craggy Atlantic shoreline. “Yes, I trust him.”

“There are times when we've agreed on issues and there are times when we haven't agreed on issues.”

Last month, Putin surprised Bush in Germany by proposing a Soviet-era early warning radar in Azerbaijan as a substitute for the radar and interceptors the United States wants to place in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington has been clear it doubts the Azerbaijan facility is up to becoming a substitute.

The Russian leader added new suggestions on Monday.

Putin proposed incorporating a radar system in southern Russia and bringing more European nations into the decision-making process about how the shield is structured. He suggested information-sharing centres in Moscow and possibly Brussels as a way to strengthen the Washington-Moscow national security relationship.

“The relationship of our two countries would be raised to an entirely new level,” Putin said.

Bush called the Russian leader's latest missile defence idea “very sincere” and “very innovative.”

However, Bush said: “I think the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system.”

Both leaders smiled and seemed eager to portray a strong, stable relationship between the two nations. Bush said that while Putin sometimes says things he doesn't like to hear, he is convinced that Putin is telling the truth.

He commented on “an amazing transformation” that's taking place in Russia, such as eliminating its debt, growing its middle class and becoming a “significant international player” — all points sure to resonate with Putin and his pride in his country.

“Is it perfect in the eyes of Americans? Not necessarily. Is the change real? Absolutely,” Bush said. “And it's in our interests, the US interests, to have good solid relations with Russia and that's what Vladimir and I have worked hard to achieve.”

Bush would not say whether or not the United States and Russia have agreed on tougher sanctions against Iran, saying only that the two countries stand together.

“When Russia and the United States speak along the same lines, it tends to have an effect and therefore I appreciate the Russians' attitude in the United Nations,” Bush said. “We're close on recognising that we got to work together to send a common message.”

Putin predicted that “we will continue to be successful” as they work through the UN Security Council.

Security Council members have begun discussing a US proposal for sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to stop enriching uranium. The US, Russia and their fellow permanent UN Security Council members, however, have told Iran they will hold off on new sanctions if it stops expanding its enrichment activities while they seek to restart talks about the program with Tehran. Diplomats say the Iranian government has not yet responded to the proposal. Putin suggested there would be “further substantial intercourse on this issue.”

It was unclear whether the leaders had agreed on methods or merely wanted to gloss over for public consumption any differences on strategy.

Bush and Putin have contrasting views on democracy and missile defence, Nato expansion into Russia's backyard and independence for Kosovo. They both want to stymie Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions, but have not seen eye-to-eye on how tough to get with Tehran or even whether Iranian missiles currently pose a threat.

Earlier, Bush and the Russian leader piled into a powerful speedboat navigated by Bush's father — former President George H.W. Bush. Under a bright morning sunshine, Putin and the Bushes roamed close to the shoreline around the Bush family's oceanfront estate for about an hour and a half.

Bush acknowledged that Putin was the only one who caught a fish, but Putin called it a “team effort.”—AP