This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/world/europe/obama-arrives-in-russia-for-g20-summit.html
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Smiling, Obama and Putin Mask Their Disputes | Smiling, Obama and Putin Mask Their Disputes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — For 15 seconds, they put on their game faces, smiled for the cameras and pretended that they were not the diplomatic equivalent of estranged spouses. | ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — For 15 seconds, they put on their game faces, smiled for the cameras and pretended that they were not the diplomatic equivalent of estranged spouses. |
| President Obama arrived at the Group of 20 summit here on Thursday on the defensive as he sought international support for a strike on Syria and confronted the meeting’s host and chief skeptic, President Vladimir V. Putin, after a period of deepening tension between the two. | President Obama arrived at the Group of 20 summit here on Thursday on the defensive as he sought international support for a strike on Syria and confronted the meeting’s host and chief skeptic, President Vladimir V. Putin, after a period of deepening tension between the two. |
| All eyes were on the famed presidential limousine as it pulled up to Constantine Palace with Mr. Putin waiting at the entrance. Emerging from the armored vehicle, flown in from Washington as is typical for presidential foreign trips, Mr. Obama strode up to the Russian president whom he recently had compared to a slacker student, shook his hand and offered a few words of chitchat, seemingly, as some speculated, about the lovely weather or the grand palace. | All eyes were on the famed presidential limousine as it pulled up to Constantine Palace with Mr. Putin waiting at the entrance. Emerging from the armored vehicle, flown in from Washington as is typical for presidential foreign trips, Mr. Obama strode up to the Russian president whom he recently had compared to a slacker student, shook his hand and offered a few words of chitchat, seemingly, as some speculated, about the lovely weather or the grand palace. |
| Mr. Putin greeted him with equally businesslike cordiality and then the two turned to the assembled journalists to pose momentarily with broader camera-ready smiles. Neither grabbed the other’s arm or patted a back, as they often do with fellow leaders. It was proper, it was protocol but it was not warm. And then within a blink of an eye, the most anticipated encounter of the annual two-day summit was over and Mr. Obama headed inside the palace while Mr. Putin waited to greet the next visiting leader. | Mr. Putin greeted him with equally businesslike cordiality and then the two turned to the assembled journalists to pose momentarily with broader camera-ready smiles. Neither grabbed the other’s arm or patted a back, as they often do with fellow leaders. It was proper, it was protocol but it was not warm. And then within a blink of an eye, the most anticipated encounter of the annual two-day summit was over and Mr. Obama headed inside the palace while Mr. Putin waited to greet the next visiting leader. |
| No wonder that body language was so absorbing on Thursday, especially after Mr. Obama last month noted Mr. Putin’s “slouch” and said he gave the appearance of a “bored kid” in school. Given that the American president had canceled a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Putin in Moscow and likewise declined any separate session here in St. Petersburg in protest of the temporary asylum granted to Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency leaker, the brief interaction between the powerful leaders was all there was to measure. | No wonder that body language was so absorbing on Thursday, especially after Mr. Obama last month noted Mr. Putin’s “slouch” and said he gave the appearance of a “bored kid” in school. Given that the American president had canceled a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Putin in Moscow and likewise declined any separate session here in St. Petersburg in protest of the temporary asylum granted to Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency leaker, the brief interaction between the powerful leaders was all there was to measure. |
| After the arrivals, the two presidents sat at the table inside the ornate hall, separated by the leaders of Australia and Indonesia, and were not spotted engaging in separate conversation, although White House aides said they might easily talk unscripted on the sidelines of the meeting at some point. It did not go unnoticed as Mr. Putin read a lengthy introductory statement about financial stability and economic growth that Mr. Obama, listening to a translation through an earphone, looked a little bored himself. | After the arrivals, the two presidents sat at the table inside the ornate hall, separated by the leaders of Australia and Indonesia, and were not spotted engaging in separate conversation, although White House aides said they might easily talk unscripted on the sidelines of the meeting at some point. It did not go unnoticed as Mr. Putin read a lengthy introductory statement about financial stability and economic growth that Mr. Obama, listening to a translation through an earphone, looked a little bored himself. |
| Mr. Obama joined other leaders of the Group of 20 nations at a time when he is preparing to launch a military strike against the Syrian government in retaliation for what the Americans have concluded was a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 last month. In the face of sharp opposition from Mr. Putin, Mr. Obama recognized that he would not find consensus here in St. Petersburg but hoped at least to bolster allies who do favor action. | Mr. Obama joined other leaders of the Group of 20 nations at a time when he is preparing to launch a military strike against the Syrian government in retaliation for what the Americans have concluded was a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 last month. In the face of sharp opposition from Mr. Putin, Mr. Obama recognized that he would not find consensus here in St. Petersburg but hoped at least to bolster allies who do favor action. |
| The Russians were not the only ones in St. Petersburg skeptical about Mr. Obama’s Syria intentions. China’s leadership backs Russia in resisting action by the United Nations Security Council and warned on Thursday that military intervention would drive up oil prices and slow down economic growth. “Military action would definitely have a negative impact on the global economy, especially on the oil price,” Zhu Guangyao, the Chinese vice finance minister, told reporters here. Italy’s prime minister likewise expressed his disagreement with a strike. | The Russians were not the only ones in St. Petersburg skeptical about Mr. Obama’s Syria intentions. China’s leadership backs Russia in resisting action by the United Nations Security Council and warned on Thursday that military intervention would drive up oil prices and slow down economic growth. “Military action would definitely have a negative impact on the global economy, especially on the oil price,” Zhu Guangyao, the Chinese vice finance minister, told reporters here. Italy’s prime minister likewise expressed his disagreement with a strike. |
| Beyond France, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Mr. Obama may find few here who will vocally back a limited military strike against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. White House officials said other countries are supportive without being as public about it or at least would agree that Mr. Assad needs to be held accountable in some fashion. But Mr. Obama had no plans to seek a formal endorsement from the leaders. | Beyond France, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Mr. Obama may find few here who will vocally back a limited military strike against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. White House officials said other countries are supportive without being as public about it or at least would agree that Mr. Assad needs to be held accountable in some fashion. But Mr. Obama had no plans to seek a formal endorsement from the leaders. |
| “We would not anticipate every member of the G-20 agreeing about the way forward in Syria, particularly given the Russian position,” Benjamin J. Rhodes, the president’s deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Air Force One en route here. Mr. Obama will “explain our current thinking” and explore what “political and diplomatic support they may express for our efforts to hold the Syrian regime accountable.” | “We would not anticipate every member of the G-20 agreeing about the way forward in Syria, particularly given the Russian position,” Benjamin J. Rhodes, the president’s deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Air Force One en route here. Mr. Obama will “explain our current thinking” and explore what “political and diplomatic support they may express for our efforts to hold the Syrian regime accountable.” |
| At a news conference in Stockholm on Wednesday, Mr. Obama acknowledged that “we’ve kind of hit a wall” in relations and he did little to paper over the strains. “Where we’ve got differences, we should be candid about them, try to manage those differences, but not sugarcoat them,” he said. | At a news conference in Stockholm on Wednesday, Mr. Obama acknowledged that “we’ve kind of hit a wall” in relations and he did little to paper over the strains. “Where we’ve got differences, we should be candid about them, try to manage those differences, but not sugarcoat them,” he said. |
| Mr. Putin said this week that he and Mr. Obama were national leaders, not personal friends. “President Obama was not elected by the American people to be pleasant to Russia,” he said in the interview. “Neither was your humble servant elected by the people of Russia to be pleasant to someone.” But both, he added, would represent global interests. | Mr. Putin said this week that he and Mr. Obama were national leaders, not personal friends. “President Obama was not elected by the American people to be pleasant to Russia,” he said in the interview. “Neither was your humble servant elected by the people of Russia to be pleasant to someone.” But both, he added, would represent global interests. |
| During public remarks on Thursday, Mr. Putin made little mention of Syria, focusing on global economic issues and touting trade agreements. The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said the issue did come up with Mr. Putin’s meeting with the leaders of China, India and Brazil, who warned that an international intervention would have global economic impacts as well. “Among the factors capable of negatively affecting the global economy are no doubt the consequences of outside interference in Syria’s affairs,” Mr. Peskov said. | |
| Mr. Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s insistence that only the United Nations Security Council can authorize military action — not the American Congress or any other national legislature — and he maintained that Russia was not blocking action in the body, despite three Russian vetoes of resolutions dealing with Syria. | |
| “The Russian side is not blocking the deliberations of other countries within the framework of the United Nations Security Council,” he said. “It is trying to encourage its partners, including its partners in Washington, to objectively consider the situation and not to make decisions before the verdict of the U.N. excepts who are working in Syria.” | |
| While only briefly greeting Mr. Putin upon arrival, Mr. Obama met Thursday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who has tried to stay out of the Syria dispute. “I certainly look forward to continuously and closely working with you to improve the situation on the ground,” Mr. Abe said obliquely as the meeting started. Mr. Obama then opened the private session with an extensive discussion of Syria, aides said. | While only briefly greeting Mr. Putin upon arrival, Mr. Obama met Thursday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who has tried to stay out of the Syria dispute. “I certainly look forward to continuously and closely working with you to improve the situation on the ground,” Mr. Abe said obliquely as the meeting started. Mr. Obama then opened the private session with an extensive discussion of Syria, aides said. |
| Mr. Obama planned separate meetings Friday with President François Hollande of France, his strongest supporter on Syria, and President Xi Jinping of China. He has no plans to sit down with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who supported Mr. Obama’s plan to strike Syria but then called off any participation after losing a parliamentary vote. | Mr. Obama planned separate meetings Friday with President François Hollande of France, his strongest supporter on Syria, and President Xi Jinping of China. He has no plans to sit down with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, who supported Mr. Obama’s plan to strike Syria but then called off any participation after losing a parliamentary vote. |
| The summit meeting was being held amid tight security with thousands of additional police officers called in from around the country. The leaders were meeting in the suburb of Strelna at Constantine Palace, a run-down, abandoned estate on the Gulf of Finland started by Peter the Great but never really finished until Mr. Putin took up the project a dozen years ago and converted it into a glittering showpiece for a re-emerging Russia. | The summit meeting was being held amid tight security with thousands of additional police officers called in from around the country. The leaders were meeting in the suburb of Strelna at Constantine Palace, a run-down, abandoned estate on the Gulf of Finland started by Peter the Great but never really finished until Mr. Putin took up the project a dozen years ago and converted it into a glittering showpiece for a re-emerging Russia. |
| The leaders had dinner Thursday night at Peterhof, Peter’s summer palace, which is often compared to Versailles. Mr. Obama planned to raise Syria during the meal, which was closed to the news media. | The leaders had dinner Thursday night at Peterhof, Peter’s summer palace, which is often compared to Versailles. Mr. Obama planned to raise Syria during the meal, which was closed to the news media. |
| The formal agenda of the meeting focuses on ways of promoting economic growth through investment, transparency and effective regulation. By one measure, the 19 nations plus the European Union represented here control 85 percent of the world’s economy and their sessions have become important annual gatherings since Mr. Obama took office. | The formal agenda of the meeting focuses on ways of promoting economic growth through investment, transparency and effective regulation. By one measure, the 19 nations plus the European Union represented here control 85 percent of the world’s economy and their sessions have become important annual gatherings since Mr. Obama took office. |
| This year’s meeting takes place against a different context than many of those in the past, without the sort of urgent crisis atmosphere that dominated previous talks. The United States economy is growing at a regular though modest pace. But many of the leaders arrived here nervous about the prospect of the Federal Reserve easing up on its stimulus program and worried about Chinese growth. | This year’s meeting takes place against a different context than many of those in the past, without the sort of urgent crisis atmosphere that dominated previous talks. The United States economy is growing at a regular though modest pace. But many of the leaders arrived here nervous about the prospect of the Federal Reserve easing up on its stimulus program and worried about Chinese growth. |
| American officials said they hoped to use the meeting to press their counterparts to stimulate more domestic demand and create more jobs. They also want the gathered leaders to tackle international tax evasion by standardizing disclosure requirements for individuals and financial institutions. | American officials said they hoped to use the meeting to press their counterparts to stimulate more domestic demand and create more jobs. They also want the gathered leaders to tackle international tax evasion by standardizing disclosure requirements for individuals and financial institutions. |
| “We’ve got to stay focused on creating jobs and growth,” Mr. Obama said in Stockholm. “That’s going to be critically important not only for our economies but also to maintain stability in many of our democracies that are under severe stress at this point.” | “We’ve got to stay focused on creating jobs and growth,” Mr. Obama said in Stockholm. “That’s going to be critically important not only for our economies but also to maintain stability in many of our democracies that are under severe stress at this point.” |
| Steven Lee Myers contributed reporting. | |