dramatize his differences with United States counterpart George W. Bush over divisive issues including Moscow’s alleged crack down on democracy and religious freedom in Russia.
While Bush arrived in Washington, Putin continued his charm offensive in Slovakia, to play down what commentators described here as their failed summit, a day earlier in the Slovak capital Bratislava.
"I don’t know how the American [delegation] officially looks back to our talks," admitted Putin, during a scripted press conference at Bratislava Castle after meeting Slovak government leaders.
But Putin made clear there was reason for optimism as he and President Bush agreed on closer cooperation in the area of energy and space explorations to the moon and beyond.
"We also agreed that nuclear material should be kept out of the hands of terrorists," said Putin.
RIGHTS WATCHERS
He stressed "the talks were also very positive." That was not how religious rights watchers viewed the summit and members of smaller churches.
Among church leaders and Christians in Russia and Slovakia there is concern that Putin will continue to back controversial legislation to boost influence of the official Russian Orthodox Church, while newer more rapidly growing Protestant groups as well as missionary workers allegedly face persecution in several areas.
Local officials especially restrict "Protestants in far-removed areas of Russia to premises in city suburbs while providing state subsidy for prominent Moscow Patriarchate construction projects," reported the news agency of human rights watchdog Forum 18 in its February religious freedom survey.
AGREEMENTS CANCELLED
"Several Protestant communities have had earlier municipal agreements allocating land inexplicably rescinded in recent years, as have Orthodox not affiliated to the Moscow Patriarchate," Forum 18 News Service said.
Analysts and Christians say Putin is apparently concerned he may lose control over more active independent churches.
"I don’t think that Bush managed to convince Putin to change his policy. It will only become more difficult for the churches in Russia," predicted 22-year old theology student ‘Mark’ who refused to give his last name. ‘Mark’ is also a member of the United Methodist Church in Slovakia, one of the several free churches that have mushroomed across former Soviet satellite states.
"WAR LEADERS"
He said Slovakia should not have invited "war" leaders. "I don’t like Bush, and I don’t like Putin. Because both are involved in wars," Mark added. Other Slovaks apparently see Bush as a cowboy with one hand on a trigger. "Bush = Terror" one huge billboard near the summit site proclaimed.
However Dutchman Abram Muller, who has lived in Slovakia for almost two decades and works as a tourist guide, keeps an open mind. He said his Slovak wife was close to tears when she saw the Bush’s walking on the platform of Bratislava airport.
"For her it was the final confirmation that freedom had arrived in Slovakia, which already joined NATO and the European Union last year. I still recall that in 1986, when we were still not married, we thought we should never see each other again because the Communists did not want us to have a relationship. Only in 1990 could we meet again and eventually marry."
For them the summit was also a symbol that Slovakia’s Velvet Revolution against Communist dictatorship was bearing fruit as a former Soviet KGB official and an ex-Texas governor could meet and discuss peacefully how to tackle major political and spiritual challenges.
