[excerpt re Russia]
US White House
June 13, 2008
Interview of [President Bush] by Ned Temko of the Observer Villa Taverna
Rome, Italy
Q And one of the areas of Europe where liberty has been sort of partly transformative is clearly post-Soviet Russia. And you've had very strong personal relationship with Putin. First of all, is your assessment that Putin is still basically in charge? And how important is your personal relationship?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me start with the second. My personal relationship is important because we had differences. And therefore if you work hard to establish a relationship of trust, that you're then able to air out your differences in a way that's respectful of the other person, and at the same time find common ground.
One area of common ground that has really not been given much attention is Iran. I agreed that the Iranians should have -- they have the sovereign right to have civilian nuclear power. Putin obviously believes they should, witness the cooperation on Bashir. We both agree, however, that they can't be trusted with the knowledge that comes from enrichment. And therefore, Putin suggested to the Iranians that Russia provide the enriched uranium necessary to run their fuel plant. I agree. And as I said yesterday in the press conference, that this really undermines the argument for the Iranians because if, in fact, their only focus is on civilian nuclear power, they readily accept the plant, the fuel and the offer of Russia to pick up the spent fuel.
So there are areas where we cooperate and there are areas where we have disagreements. And yet I believe the best foreign policy for the American President is to be in a position to earn the trust of those where there's not a hundred percent agreement. And by the way, any American President will find out there's never a hundred percent agreement -- even with your closest friends.
Q I'm sure that's right. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: And so the first part of the question -- yes, look, I think it's -- I went to Sochi. Putin introduced me to Medvedev. And he -- in not only his body language, but in his words to me that Medvedev is going to be in charge of foreign policy. And their relationship is being sorted out and the world is fascinated to watch what's happening. I think it's -- I'll take him for his word and then we'll watch and see what happens.
Q How concerned are you about issues like human rights in Russia? And what degree of influence does any outside country -- even the United States or --
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I think it matters. I think it matters when people speak up, whether it be in Russia or China or anywhere else. In Russia's case, there was -- early on in my presidency I remember talking to Vladimir Putin on behalf of the Catholic Church, where there were concerns about the Church being able to have a robust presence.
Vladimir Putin is sensitive to religious issues. He's a religious guy himself -- he has a beautiful little orthodox church on his own property, which he proudly showed me and Laura one time. He made sure I met some of the Jewish community when I was there in Russia. And so he is sensitive to religious liberty, more so than some other countries.
Q And is western leverage reduced by the fact that Russia has a good chunk of the world's natural energy resources?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it certainly changes the equation on a lot of foreign policy. It's interesting to watch the European Union wrestle with energy independence. Early in my presidency nations were saying they were going to get rid of nuclear power. And I questioned them quietly, on an individual basis, about that decision, because if you get rid of one source of power you have to find another source of power -- unless, of course, you don't care whether your economy grows. Most leaders end up caring whether their economy grows.
So I predicted to some of these leaders that there would be an issue in terms of having a sole source supplier, particularly of natural gas from Russia. And now there's great consternation within the EU. And my only point is, is that this energy issue complicates a lot of foreign policy issues -- including that between the EU and Russia, as well as that between the United States and Venezuela, or the world and Iran. And the question is, what do you do about it?