| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 16, 2001 |
Bush, Putin Fail to Reach Deal on Missile Defense |
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U.S. President George W.Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach a deal to allow the United States to build a missile defense system as they ended three days of meetings Thursday.
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U.S. President George W.Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to reach a deal to allow the United States to build a missile defense system as they ended three days of meetings Thursday.
"We have a difference of opinion," Bush said when speaking at a joint press Conference with Putin at Crawford High School. "Our disagreements will not divide us as nations."
Putin said that the summit had not been a waste of time and the two leaders aimed to continue discussions, building on what he said was common ground in a shared belief that new-style security threats must be addressed.
"We shall continue our discussions," Putin added.
Bush had hoped to win an agreement from Putin to abandon or modify the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, which prohibits national missile defenses.
Moscow has opposed any effort to dismantle the treaty, which is viewed as a centerpiece for world strategic stability. Washington has characterized the pact as a relic of the Cold War.
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