Bush, Putin to agree measures to combat nuclear terrorism

US President George Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to announce new measures to combat nuclear terrorism and to better safeguard nuclear arsenals at their summit in Slovakia today.

The leaders were also expected to announce a new agreement designed to restrict trade in shoulder-fired missiles, officials said.

Ending a European goodwill tour, Bush was meeting Putin in Bratislava, the snow-blanketed capital of Slovakia which once part of the Soviet bloc. It was their first meeting since Bush began his second term as president in January.

Both leaders are walking a fine line, wanting to air their grievances without undercutting generally improved relations between the old Cold War nuclear rivals who are now co-operating closely in the war on terror.

High on the agenda are US concerns over Putin’s moves to solidify his power and to clamp down on civil and press liberties. Also drawing US alarm are Putin’s attempts to influence elections in Ukraine and Russia’s close ties to Iran.

Bush administration officials said the two would announce new steps to combat terrorism and to safeguard nuclear materials.

The agreement will include a promise to upgrade security at Russia’s nuclear plants and weapons stockpiles, new procedures for responding to possible terrorist attacks and a programme to keep nuclear fuel from being diverted to use in nuclear weapons, the officials said.

Ahead of the meeting, Bush expressed concerns about Putin’s recent crackdown on political and press freedom.

“I look forward to talking to him about his decision-making process,” Bush said in Germany. He said he was particularly concerned about Putin’s curbs on press freedoms.

The summit comes nearly a year after Putin’s strong re-election victory. However, he is in a weakened position following a series of mishaps and setbacks in both domestic and foreign policy.

The setbacks include increased violence in the Chechen conflict, in particular the horrifying raid on a school in Beslan that ended in a torrent of gunfire and explosions that killed more than 330 people, half of them children.

Putin also ended direct popular election of regional governors, increasing central control. In addition, he waged a campaign against the Yukos oil company and its founders. Both drew criticism at home and abroad.