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Bush blasts Russian, Chinese politics

Demonstrators hold a scarecrow during a protest rally against a possible installation of a US missile defense radar system in the Czech Republic in Prague on Monday. US President George W. Bush arrived on Monday for a two-day visit to the Czech Republic. PHOTO: AFP

US President George W. Bush criticized Russia and China on democracy yesterday, saying the US would continue building relationships with those countries but without abandoning its values.

His speech to democracy and human-rights activists in Prague came amid US-Russian tensions over missile defense, and ahead of the G8 meeting in Germany this week where Bush will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development," Bush said.

He also criticized China for not doing more on the political front.

"China's leaders believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without also opening its political system," he said.

The US has strong working relationships with Russia and China, he said. "Our friendship with them is complex. In the areas where we share mutual interests, we work together. In other areas, we have strong disagreements."

"Part of a good relationship is the ability to talk openly about our disagreements. So the United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries, and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values," he said.

In a speech celebrating democracy's progress around the globe,Bush said that free societies emerge "at different speeds in different places" and have to reflect local customs. But he said certain values were universal to all democracies.

Bush's lecture, however gentle, was not likely to be well-received by Putin, already riled over what he sees as unwelcome meddling by the US in Russia's sphere of influence.

Most recently, Moscow has become increasingly irritated by US plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe. Russia believes the system -- with a radar base planned for the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland -- is meant for it. Putin has said he has no choice but to boost his nation's own military potential in response.

Putin warned over the weekend that Moscow could take "retaliatory steps" including aiming nuclear weapons at US military bases in Europe. China yesterday joined Russia in saying the shield could touch off a new arms race.

The Prague conference was hosted by Natan Sharansky, a former prisoner of the Soviet regime who has continued to champion freedom, and former Czech president Vaclav Havel.

Earlier, Bush and the Czech Republic's leaders defended the plans for the missile shield.

"The people of the Czech Republic don't have to choose between being a friend of the United States or a friend with Russia," Bush said at a joint appearance with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and President Vaclav Klaus. "You can be both. We don't believe in a zero-sum world."
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