For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 6, 2002
President Bush Discusses India-Pakistan with President Putin
Statement by the Press Secretary
President Bush spoke with Russian President Putin today in a phone call
that lasted twenty minutes. The two leaders discussed a variety of
issues, including the India-Pakistan situation and non-proliferation
cooperation. President Bush and President Putin agreed to continue
mutual efforts to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, and
President Bush praised President Putin's efforts to defuse tensions in
separate meetings in Almaty, Kazakhstan with President Musharraf and
Prime Minister Vajpayee. President Bush and President Putin discussed
the Commerce Department's decision to grant Russia market economy
status, and both said they looked forward to meeting in Kananasakis,
Canada during the G-8 summit later in June.
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