Bush: Settlement of Iranian problem depends not on USA only, but on EU, Russia and China

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US President George Bush and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves had a joint news conference in Tallinn today, on November 28. As a REGNUM correspondent reports, most questions asked at the news conference were about the situation in Iraq and the “Iranian issue.”

Estonian reporters asked about terms of lifting visa regime by the US for Estonian citizens and the Russian-Georgian conflict. Bush promised to raise the issue of lifting the visa regime “as soon as possible.” He also noted that talked to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and expressed his concern over the tensions in the Russia-Georgia relations. In his turn, Ilves said that Russia should comprehend that presence of democratic states at her borders is a better guarantee of its security than presence of authoritarian countries.

US reporters asked Bush about the situation in Iraq and the Iranian issue. The US president pointed out democratic changes in Iraqi society and stressed that settlement of the Iranian issue depends not only on the USA, but on international community as well, including the European Union, Russia and China. Ilves gave no comments on the subjects.

The news conference lasted for 20 minutes and was broadcasted by the Estonian state television and BBC World. Bush’s visit to Estonia continues, he is expected to meet Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and take part in a dinner at Estonia National Theater. Tonight the US president is scheduled to depart to Riga.