Putin pulls out the stops for Russia's first G8 summit

By Shada Islam and Leon Mangasarian Jul 17, 2006, 13:32 GMT

St Petersburg - President Vladimir Putin pulled out all the stops for Russia's first-ever G8 summit of industrial nations.

It was - literally - Putin's hour in the sun. At least for a moment.

The Russian leader, determined to ensure a smooth-running meeting of leaders from the world's Group of Eight (G8) wealthiest nations, used planes to dump chemicals in the sky to prevent clouds and rain from spoiling his party.

The weather manipulation - all in a good cause - was confirmed by officials.

'We tried to get them not to do it, but some old habits die hard,' said one official who advised the Kremlin on setting up this year's rich country jamboree.

Media reports said up to 10 aircraft flew rain-fighting missions over St Petersburg where G8 leaders were meeting in the luxurious 18th century Konstantin Palace built by Peter the Great to symbolize Russian imperial power.

Putin's anti-rainfall gambit worked for the first half of the three-day meeting.

But on the second and third days of the meeting, the stored-up moisture finally unleashed torrential downpours, drenching British Prime Minister Tony Blair who was late for Sunday's afternoon working session.

The Russian government reportedly paid millions of dollars to western media and public relations consultants who helped them put on the G8 which has become a major annual showcase for the host nation.

'We are the beneficiaries of record oil prices,' said one of the legion of paid consultants at the summit who asked not to be identified.

G8 members are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Money has also been poured into St Petersburg - Putin's home town - to whip things into shape for G8 leaders and the thousands of diplomats, reporters and hangers-on who follow what the German newspaper Die Welt dubbed the annual 'circus of the vanities.'

Millions of flowers have been planted around the city and buildings along main roads have been painted so that unsightly garbage dumps and construction sites are hidden by high fences and screens.

The Potemkin-like approach even goes so far as to wrap crumbling buildings in printed sheets of fabric to make it look as if they have been restored.

Anti-globalist protests, a feature at G8 summits in recent years, were also kept out of sight and confined at a remote stadium in the suburbs.

About 300 old-guard communists, however, marched through the city which used to be called Leningrad on Saturday.

A small group of protesters tried to storm the Hotel Pribaltiskaya where most reporters were staying early Sunday. Carrying burning flares and throwing leaflets, the demonstrators shouted 'Putin! We need a new Russia!'

Police officers swiftly overpowered the mainly young demonstrators who were seen being led off with arms twisted behind their backs.

Security forces have blanketed St Petersburg. Grim-faced young men, with identikit short haircuts, pointy leather shoes and suits bulging with firearms are a common sight.

Most have cigarettes dangling from their mouths.

The efficient and well-stocked state-of-the-art press centre on the Konstantin Palace grounds has a strongly un-Russian feel to it.

And no wonder because Russia seems to be revelling in its own form of globalization.

The massive tents housing reporters and official delegations have been set up by a Belgian company, the communications equipment is from Germany and the wine is from France.

Even some of the beer has been shipped in from Denmark although most participants seemed to prefer the local 'Baltika' brew which was on tap.

The huge stacks of 'Tsarskaya Golden Vodka' bottles in coolers around the press centre were clearly, however, the genuine Russian product.

Along with the rain, some other things did not go as Putin planned.

The Russian leader appeared ill-at-ease during his news conference with the back-slapping US President George W Bush.

When Bush made the faux pas of telling Putin that Russia should follow Iraq as a democracy model with its free press and freedom of religion, President Putin gave him an icy stare.

'We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as we have in Iraq,' said Putin.

The usually poker-faced Russian leader finally cracked a wry grin when many reporters at the press conference laughed.

In what seemed like a throwback to the old Soviet style, some reporters even applauded in appreciation of their leader's witty repartee.