[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 23 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Pages 763-764]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Vladimir Putin of Russia 
and an Exchange With Reporters in Heiligendamm

June 7, 2007

    President Bush. Vladimir and I just had a very constructive dialog, 
particularly about missile defense. He expressed his concerns to me. He 
is concerned that the missile defense system is not an act that a friend 
would do. He made some interesting suggestions. As a result of our 
discussions, we both agreed to have a strategic dialog, a opportunity to 
share ideas and concerns between our State Department, Defense 
Department, and military people.
    This will be a serious set of strategic discussions. This is a 
serious issue, and we want to make sure that we all understand each 
other's positions very clearly. As a result of these conversations, I 
expect there to be better understanding of the technologies involved and 
the opportunities to work together.
    I told Vladimir we're looking forward to having him up to my folks' 
place in Maine the beginning of July. And we'll be able to continue our 
discussions, our bilateral discussions on a variety of issues.
    President Putin. I'd like to confirm what the President of the 
United States has just said--except for one thing. I have not said that 
friends do not act in this way. [Laughter] We have an understanding as 
well as common threats, but we have differences. The difference is ways 
and means in which we can overcome these threats. We considered the 
proposal by the American side very thoroughly, and we have ideas of our 
own. I have stated these ideas in a thorough way.
    The first proposal is to use the radar station rented by us in 
Azerbaijan which is entitled Gabala. Yesterday I had a conversation of 
this matter with the President of Azerbaijan. The existing agreement 
with Azerbaijan makes it possible for us to do this, and the President 
of Azerbaijan stressed that he will be only glad to contribute to the 
cause of global security and stability.
    We can do it automatically, in an automatic regime. And in this 
case, the system which is to be constructed can cover not only part of 
Europe but the entire Europe without any exception. This will fully 
exclude the possibility for the missile debris to fall on European 
states because they will fall in the ocean. This will make it possible 
for us not to change our stance on targeting our missiles. On the 
contrary, this will create necessary grounds for common work.
    But this work should be multifaceted with the engagement of states 
concerned in Europe. And we agreed with George that our experts will 
start doing it as soon as possible. This will make it impossible--
unnecessary for us to place our offensive complexes along the borders 
with Europe. And this will make unnecessary to place the appropriate 
American complexes in outer space.
    But we hope that these consultations will not serve as cover--to 
cover some unilateral actions, and I have told George about that. 
Because as soon as a country, for instance, Iran, carries out its first 
test of its long-range missile, our reconnaissance means and American 
reconnaissance means will register this immediately. Three to five years 
will be necessary from the first test until the system is operational. 
This time is fairly enough to deploy any ABM system. Therefore, no 
matter how long our talks are going on, we will never be late. The major 
thing for these negotiations is that they should be viewed and should 
take into account joint interests in the security area.
    I'm grateful to the President of the United States for a 
constructive dialog today.
    President Bush. We'll answer one question apiece. Toby [Tabassum 
Zakaria, Reuters]. Then we got to go to a meeting.

Missile Defense System

    Q. President Putin, are you saying now that you do not consider the 
missile defense issue a serious threat to your country anymore? And were 
you satisfied with what President Bush presented to you in this meeting?
    President Putin. I think that if we work together to overcome the 
threats we are discussing today and if we take into account the concerns 
of each other, if we make this work

[[Page 764]]

transparent and if we provide for an equal access to the system, then 
we'll have--through the management of this system--then we will have no 
problem. And I'm, of course, satisfied with the spirit of openness in 
which we discussed this problem today on behalf of President of the 
United States.

Russia-U.S. Relations

    Q. My question is for both Presidents. In your today's dialog, what 
was more, constructive things or rather differences? What prevailed?
    President Bush. Well, you just heard that, the desire to work 
together to allay people's fears. There's a lot of people who don't like 
it when Russia and the United States argue, and it creates tensions. 
Russia is a great country, and so is the United States. It's much better 
to work together than it is to create tensions.
    Thanks. See you later.

Note: The President spoke at 4:07 p.m. at the Kempinski Grand Hotel 
Heiligendamm. President Putin referred to President Ilham Aliyev of 
Azerbaijan. President Putin spoke in Russian, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available for verification 
of the content of these remarks.