US President George W. Bush will join Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday for ceremonies commemorating the end of World War II in Europe.
The event aims to mark the sacrifices the Allies made to defeat Germany and force the nation's surrender on May 8, 1945, but Bush will have some other issues on his mind when he meets privately with his Russian counterpart.
Even though the two leaders enjoy a good personal relationship and are partners in the war on terrorism, Bush has been concerned about the course of Russian democracy under Putin's tenure.
The US has expressed disappointment over the crackdown on independent media in the country and Putin's effort to strengthen the power of the Kremlin at the cost of state governments.
DISAPPOINTMENT
When Bush and Putin met in Bratislava in February, the US president pressed the Russian on the importance of building viable democratic institutions to achieve stronger diplomatic and economic relations with the US.
"I was able to share my concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling these universal principles," Bush said after the meeting.
"I did so in a constructive and friendly way. I reaffirmed my belief that it is democracy and freedom that bring true security and prosperity in every land," he said.
The two sides have had differences. Putin worked with Germany and France to oppose the invasion of Iraq and the US has been annoyed about Russia's involvement in helping Iran build a nuclear reactor.
Putin was unhappy with US support for the democratic movements in Georgia and Ukraine, two former Soviet republics. During the trip, Bush plans on stopping in Latvia before Moscow and Georgia afterwards, two countries Putin considers defiant toward the Kremlin. Bush will also visit the Netherlands.
GEORGIA ON HIS MIND
Thousands of Georgians are expected to show up at Bush's speech in Tblisi's Freedom Square, where massive democratic protests in 2003 eventually ousted then-president Eduard Shevardnadze and replaced him with the more pro-western President Mikhail Saakashvili.
In the speech, Bush will "commend the people of Georgia for choosing democracy, and standing up for their freedoms through non-violent means," Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security advisor, told reporters on Wednesday.
Hadley insisted Bush's stops in Latvia and Georgia were not meant as an affront to Putin, but to celebrate the defeat of fascism and tyranny in Europe as part of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II on the continent as well as the collapse of communism, Hadley said.
"The president is not going to those two countries to send any message to Russia," he said.
CONCERNS ABOUT DEMOCRACY
Hadley also emphasized that the issue of Russian democracy has long been a topic on the agenda when the two leaders get together.
"As Russia becomes more democratic and strengthens its democratic institutions, it will enable us to have an even closer relationship with Russia," he said.
Despite differences, Bush and Putin try hard to portray a friendly personal relationship and focus on areas in which their governments can work together, such as persuading North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons and on peace in the Middle East.
Putin wrapped up a historical trip to the Middle East last month, including a stop in Israel, but his call to hold a peace conference in Moscow in the near future was met coolly back in Washington.
The White House said the process had yet to move along far enough to set up a gathering.
The Middle East peace conference is part of the "roadmap" peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and was drawn up by the US and Russia along with the UN and the EU.
MEDIA FREEDOM
US officials and perhaps even Bush was expected to bring up the slaying of an American journalist, Paul Klebnikov, in Moscow last July.
Klebnikov was gunned down while leaving his office at Forbes Russia magazine. His murder was one of many that have taken place in Russia during the last 10 years. Russian authorities charged two suspects in connection to Klebnikov's murder after their extradition from Belarus in February.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Klebnikov's widow and brother in Washington on Tuesday to ensure them the US would continue to push for justice.
"We'll continue to urge the government of Russia to pursue the investigation vigorously to a conclusion," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said after the meeting.
Boucher added that he "wouldn't be surprised" if the issue came up during Bush's trip.
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