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Bush calls Russian, Italian leaders over proliferation, Libya

PLA Daily 2004-02-16

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- US President George W. Bush on Saturday called Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over telephone to discuss issues including nonproliferation and Libya, a White House spokeswoman said.

Jeanie Mamo told reporters that the phone conversation between Bush and Putin focused on nonproliferation and both leaders agreed to work together in this regard.

"The two leaders discussed the president's recent speech at the National Defense University," Mamo said.

She was referring to Bush's Wednesday address at the University in which he called for greater international cooperation to stop proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Bush and Berlusconi mainly discussed the Italian prime minister's meeting with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on Feb. 10, according to Mamo.

"The president noted that Libya had made good initial progress on fulfilling its commitments," Mamo said.

"As Libya continues to fulfill its commitments, it will be able to realize better relations with the rest of the world," the spokeswoman quoted Bush as telling Berlusconi.

Libya announced last December that it would give up all weapons of mass destruction. The Bush administration has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with Tripoli's cooperation in disarmament so far.