Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the 60th anniversary of Victory in World War II Medal to former US President George Bush Senior in the Kremlin on Monday, according to the Itar-Tass News Agency.  

"Before we begin our conversation I would like to award a commemorative medal to you as a veteran of World War II," Putin told visiting George Bush Senior.

"I know that you took part in the war and know the tragic incident linked with your participation when your plane was shot down," Putin said.

Putin meanwhile recalled the previous meeting with George Bush Senior in Sochi, where the former US president put his signature under the Charter on Friendship and Cooperation with Russia in the early 1990s, the report said.

George Bush Senior, for his part, thanked the Russian president for the medal and Putin personally who met the US ex-president despite a tough work schedule.

The former US president meanwhile denied that some cooling off was noticeable between George W. Bush and Putin during their recent meeting in Moscow. He believes the Russian and US leaders have good relations and understand each other, the Interfax said.

Speaking at a meeting with students and faculty of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Bush Sr. approved of his son visiting Moscow on May 9 and taking part in the WWII victory commemoration ceremonies.

Talking about the war against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq launched under the decision of George W. Bush, the former US president noted that when the incumbent president says something, he means it, and he is not the kind of person who waits to see which way the wind blows.

Asked to comment on the US president visiting Latvia before coming to Moscow, Bush Sr. denied this was done to offend President Putin, said the Interfax.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2005)