Bush, Putin minimize differences

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed their differences over the Kremlin's crackdown on Russia's free press and businesses, although there was sharper disagreement behind the scenes at yesterday's U.S.-Russia summit here.

Mr. Bush, who focused his second inaugural address on spreading liberty worldwide and who had been harshly critical in recent weeks of Moscow on democratic reform, managed to mute such criticism in a joint press conference with Mr. Putin after their nearly three-hour summit.

"Democracies have certain things in common: They have a rule of law and protection of minorities, a free press and a viable political opposition," Mr. Bush said in Bratislava Castle. "I was able to share my concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling these universal principles. I did so in a constructive and friendly way."

However, Mr. Bush was more blunt in private.

One European official said the president confided to him that "Putin is a man loving strong-hand more than democratic institutions. Putin still doesn't understand something like sharing power."

Still, Mr. Putin said at the press conference that he was at least partially receptive to Mr. Bush's concerns.

"Some of his ideas could be taken into account in my work, and I will pay due attention to them, that's for sure," he said. "Some other ideas, I will not comment on."

But for the most part, Mr. Putin issued a vigorous defense of his handling of democracy in Russia.

"Russia has made its choice in favor of democracy -- fourteen years ago," he said. "This is our final choice, and we have no way back.

"There can be no return to what we used to have before," he added. "Any kind of turn toward totalitarianism for Russia would be impossible, due to the condition of the Russian society."