Bush: Putin leader of consequence, but to what end?

By Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday said Russian President Vladimir Putin was chosen "Person of the Year" by a U.S. magazine for being a leader of consequence, but only time would judge "to what end."

Bush joked that he and Putin now belonged to the same club after Time magazine named the Russian leader as the most newsworthy person of 2007 and wrote a cover story about him. Bush was selected by the magazine twice, in 2004 and 2000, the years he was elected president.

"You know, I'm looking forward to seeing him at the alumni meeting of the man of the year," Bush quipped at a news conference.

"I presume they put him on there because he was a consequential leader. And the fundamental question is: Consequential to what end? You know, what will the country look like 10 years from now?" Bush said.

U.S.-Russian relations have become strained, with Washington criticizing Moscow for backtracking on democratic reforms and Russia angry over U.S. intentions to build a missile defense system in Europe.

Disagreements over the Iraq war, independence for Kosovo and sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have also eroded the bond between the leaders that started with Bush's famous statement in 2001 that he had looked into Putin's eyes and got a sense of his soul.

"My hope, of course, is that Russia is a country which understands there needs to be checks and balances, and free and fair elections, and a vibrant press," Bush said.

"That they understand Western values based upon human rights and human dignity are values that will lead to a better country. That's my hopes," he said.