Cameron, Putin flirt with judo diplomacy
Source: Agencies |
August 3, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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BLACK-BELTED Vladimir Putin locked horns yesterday with British leader David Cameron over Syria before heading for an afternoon of judo diplomacy at the Olympics.
Prime Minister Cameron tried to push Putin to take a tougher line on Syria and stop blocking Western-backed resolutions aimed at stepping up pressure on President Bashar Assad.
But after 45 minutes of talks in Downing Street, for which Putin put in an unusually punctual appearance, Cameron and Putin said Russia and Britain still differed over Syria.
"I look forward to taking the president to the judo but note that we will be spectators, not participants," Cameron said before the two men traveled in separate cars to the Olympics.
In a stark illustration of the still frosty ties between the countries, Putin used his stretched, Russian-number-plated black Mercedes limousine while Cameron used his armored gray Jaguar to leave Downing Street.
The two leaders entered the Olympic judo arena together just seconds after British fighter Gemma Gibbons pulled off a shock win over world champion Audrey Tcheumeo of France to get to the final of one of the women's competitions. The two sat down and were seen talking animatedly with each other, both occasionally gesticulating.
A one-time judo champion in his native city of St Petersburg, Putin is likely to be at his combative best during his first visit to Britain in years.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, known for his wisecracks, said he hoped Putin would strip off to take part in the judo. "Oh, I hope he will take part. What is he, a dab (hand), I think that's what we want to see, stripped to the waist," Johnson told reporters.
But Putin, tanned and dressed in a red necktie and dark suit, appeared to be focused on the judo bout in which Russia's Tagir Khaibulaev won, sealing his place in the 100-kg men's final against Olympic champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia. The Russian went on to win the gold.
Prime Minister Cameron tried to push Putin to take a tougher line on Syria and stop blocking Western-backed resolutions aimed at stepping up pressure on President Bashar Assad.
But after 45 minutes of talks in Downing Street, for which Putin put in an unusually punctual appearance, Cameron and Putin said Russia and Britain still differed over Syria.
"I look forward to taking the president to the judo but note that we will be spectators, not participants," Cameron said before the two men traveled in separate cars to the Olympics.
In a stark illustration of the still frosty ties between the countries, Putin used his stretched, Russian-number-plated black Mercedes limousine while Cameron used his armored gray Jaguar to leave Downing Street.
The two leaders entered the Olympic judo arena together just seconds after British fighter Gemma Gibbons pulled off a shock win over world champion Audrey Tcheumeo of France to get to the final of one of the women's competitions. The two sat down and were seen talking animatedly with each other, both occasionally gesticulating.
A one-time judo champion in his native city of St Petersburg, Putin is likely to be at his combative best during his first visit to Britain in years.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, known for his wisecracks, said he hoped Putin would strip off to take part in the judo. "Oh, I hope he will take part. What is he, a dab (hand), I think that's what we want to see, stripped to the waist," Johnson told reporters.
But Putin, tanned and dressed in a red necktie and dark suit, appeared to be focused on the judo bout in which Russia's Tagir Khaibulaev won, sealing his place in the 100-kg men's final against Olympic champion Tuvshinbayar Naidan of Mongolia. The Russian went on to win the gold.
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