New York, 17 June 2001 (STA) - The US television networks Fox, CNN, and NBC provided extensive coverage of the meeting between the US and Russian presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin in Slovenia, which itself was mentioned several times as the location of the event. The CNN White House correspondent John King spoke of how picturesque Slovenia was and the same network in its brief reports several times mentioned President Bush's recommendation to Americans that Slovenia was well worth visiting. Their reports were otherwise exclusively dedicated to the actual summit between the presidents.

Then came the turn of the conservative commentators, who emphasised the warmth of the meeting between the US and Russian President, which in their words was not seen in Bush's discussions in other European capitals. It was particularly commented on that Bush was much more warmly received by the former Communist countries of Poland and Slovenia than by their allies in Western Europe. The conservative commentator Kate O'Brien even said on the subject of European criticisms that the American liberal media was "anti-American" as well, as they took Europe's side in criticisms of Bush on climate change, the environment, the death penalty and other issues.

The initial views from American liberals were reserved. For example, Al Hunt, the only liberal commentator on the Wall Street Journal, said on CNN that Bush had accomplished nothing in Europe as European positions on disputed issues remained different, just as he had failed to convince Putin that the missile defence shield and the enlargement of the Nato alliance were not a threat to Russia. The conservative Bob Novak meanwhile said that Bush had fulfilled all the tasks he had set himself before his departure to Europe and criticized the demonstrations against Bush in Europe.

The only Fox programme on Saturday to cover the Bush and Putin summit was in similar vein. The programme, with John Gibson, revealed that the Americans were pleasantly surprised at the friendly atmosphere of the meeting between Bush and Putin and disappointed at Europe's attitude to their president. General George Joulwan, the former Nato Chief of Staff, expressed his conviction on the programme that Bush's visit was successful and that Bush had made a good impression on his European hosts and Putin. In the background to the discussions they played images of the official welcome given to the US and Russian presidents by Slovenia's leaders at Brnik. While the "Slovenian leaders" were mentioned many times and occasionally also the name of President Milan Kučan, the surname of Slovenia's Prime Minister remained an unpronounceable mystery to American journalists and reporters.