11th EU Russia summit

40 world leaders have spent the day in St Petersburg attending the 11th EU Russia summit. The meeting hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin coincided with the climax of the St Petersburg 300 year celebrations. German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder praised the Russian organisers and the summit itself. The festive mood was used by President George W. Bush to begin to heal rifts between the US and other European powers over the Iraq war. British Prime Minister Tony Blair viewed the summit as the beginning of a new era of unity of purpose in Europe. Many of the world leaders who were in St Petersburg are to meet again on Sunday in the French city of Evian at the G8 global summit.