Bush: 'The Cold War is over...' (at 'press conference' without questions)

By Mark Silva

PRAGUE – President Bush's head nodded to the rhythm of the military band that welcomed him this morning at the gates of the hilltop Prague Castle, an edifice of empires past which traces its history to 880 AD, the setting for Bush's private meetings and public statements with the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, and the prime minister, Mirek Topolanek.

The two presidents, facing heated vocal objections from Russian President Vladimir Putin, hope to find more agreement both internationally and here in Prague during the months ahead for a radar installation which the United States wants to place here, combined with missiles in Poland, as part of a European missile defense network.

"The Cold War is over,'' Bush said at the beginning of a "press conference'' -- which turned out to be something rather short of that, as the Czech hosts announced beforehand: "This press conference is going to be without questions.''

"The people of the Czech Republic don't have to choose between being a friend of the United States or a friend with Russia,'' Bush said. "You can be both,'' said Bush, insisting that the new defense network will guard against "rogue regimes'' and poses no threat to Russia.

"I think we understand we agree with President Bush on that'' missile defense network, the Czech president said after a private meeting with Bush. "We regard it as important that President Bush has agreed to make maximum efforts to explain this to President Putin,'' said Klaus, adding that "the Czech public are very sensitive to these issues'' as well.

Even the American Chamber of Commerce here in the Czech Republic acknowledges that "the traditionally anti-military Czechs remain opposed to the base.'' The chamber says somewhat optimistically, however, that the numbers "are becoming more favorable.'' The numbers adamantly opposed to the radar have dropped to 36 percent, the chamber reports, while the numbers supporting the base have risen from 26 to 30 percent.

President Bush, joined by Czech President Vaclav Klaus, arrived at the gates of Prague Castle this morning to hear the American and Czech national anthems played by a military band. The two leaders met privately and then made a public statement. This and all other photos by Mark Silva.

The objective of the missile network is to protect Europe "from the threat of a missile attack launched from a rogue regime.,'' Bush said. "This is a purely defensive issue.. aimed not at Russia, but at true threats... I'll tell Russia that they need not fear such a system.''

Bush, who will be meeting with Putin at the Group of Eight summit this week in Germany and later at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, said: "My message will be, 'Vladimir -- I call him Vladimir -- you shouldn’t fear a missile defense system.''

In fact, Bush said, Russia can participate if it chooses. "Let us have the ability to discuss this issue in an open forum. We will be completely transparent,'' Bush said, offering to work with Russian scientists on the project. "The missile defense system will be coordinated with NATO. I just want the people of this important country to undersdtand that our intention, and the reality, is that we will protect ourselves from the true threat.''

Framed by the ceremonial bayonets of the honor guard.

The gates of the castle are adorned with the vanquishing exploits of statuary which stand as testament to the history of conquest here.

Inside the castle, the fountain seems self-explanatory, but the cage in the courtyard raised questions that weren't readily answered. Falcons, maybe? Or prisoners, perhaps?:

The president's limousine arrived in a motorcade:

Bush and Klaus enter the courtyard:

The honor guard:

Reviewing the troops:

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, with President Klaus and First Lady Livia Klausova:

Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra is the one who told us that he isn't worried about Russian threats of aiming missiles anew at Europe if the U.S. goes ahead with its European missle shield: "I think it's a typical Russian game. He's trying to extend the influence again in Central and Eastern Europe -- nothing new... We have time to explain to the Russians and explain that this (missile defense system) is not at all aimed against them. I believe, at the end of the day, the Russians will learn how to live with that.''

The Czech Cabinet was having a little laugh on the courtyard before Bush's arrival. Vondra is seen here on the right, joined, from right to left, by Karel Schwarzenberg, minister of foreign affairs, and Vlasta Parkanova, minister of defense:

Heading inside for more serious talk:

The leaders met in the Glass Room of a palace which served as home for the Bohemian royal family in the 1300s, when Prague was the third largest city in Europe, after Rome and Istanbul.

The emperor, Charles IV, ruled here in the 14th Century, and this later became the home of the president of the first independent republic of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Masaryk. It is the ceremonial home of the current president.

Here, the calm before the statements, the statue of Masaryk standing behind the podiums where the two presidents and prime minister would appear today:

Masaryk, the first president of democratic Czechoslovakia:

Czechoslovakia was the only eastern European country to maintain its parliamentary democracy from 1918 to 1938. In September 1938, France and the United Kingdom yielded to the Nazis and agreed to force Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany, which invaded what remained of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939, establishing a German "protectorate."

Following a Soviet invasion in 1968, Czechoslovakia underwent another period of domination that ended with the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and the election of the free nation's first president, Vaclav Havel. By 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia had separated peacefully. Bush now has appeared in the castles of both nations, here at Prague Castle today, and at Bratislava Castle in Slovakia in February 2005.

The spires of St. Vitas cathedral, which was begun in 1344, rise above Prague Castle: