For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 16, 2001

Remarks by President Bush and Russian President Putin in Photo Opportunity
Brdo Castle
Brdo Pri Kranju, Slovenia

2:45 P.M. (L)

     Q    Mr. President, any thoughts about this first meeting?

     PRESIDENT PUTIN:  -- first impression, it was a good first impression.

     PRESIDENT BUSH:  I rest my case.  (Laughter.)  We're going to have a very good meeting.  And I've been looking forward to this for a long period of time; we find we have a lot in common.  And I'm so honored the President came here -- I know it's inconvenient to travel such a long distance, Mr. President --

     PRESIDENT PUTIN:  We know about the very latest statements of President Bush in Warsaw, and that's a very good foundation for us to proceed.

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, all.

                               END                                2:46 P.M. (L)