Russia's Time to Shine on World Stage

STRELNA, Russia — An international gathering that brings together the leaders of the major industrialized nations is about confronting such important issues as ensuring reliable energy supplies and fighting infectious diseases, topics at the weekend's Group of 8 summit.

But it is also an opportunity for the host to preen on the world stage -- no big deal, say, for France, which held the first such gathering in 1975 in the chateau town of Rambouillet. But it is one big deal for Russia and its president, Vladimir V. Putin.

As first-time hosts at this year's summit, both country and president dedicated considerable energy to demonstrating that they were up to the task and belonged in the club of top industrialized nations.

Russia's efforts went so far as to try to control the weather. But beyond the climate, Russia and its leader went about establishing themselves on the new grand stage in several ways.

Consider the mansions where the Russians housed each of the visiting leaders: They were erected in recent years on the grounds of the Konstantinovsky Palace, which was built three centuries ago by Czar Peter the Great, destroyed during World War II, and eventually rebuilt to imperial standards.

Each mansion could serve adequately as a replacement for a Beverly Hills teardown. Among the amenities: A shoe-polishing machine was spotted in the vestibule of President Bush's residence, ready to give a last-minute shine before guests stepped outside.

Each has roughly 20,000 square feet of living space. That's about 10 times the size of a typical American split-level. The Russians call these McMansions "cottages."

The available space, at least in Bush's residence, did not include the attic and basement. They were off-limits, sealed even to the president's security agents, a White House official said.

The president's aides figured the closed space had something to do with eavesdropping. As is often the case when the president visits abroad, space was set up within his quarters with special walls -- a room within a room -- to keep private conversations private.

The aides assumed that any conversations they conducted outdoors in the yards, largely free of shrubs but decorated with saplings, could be picked up. So, they were told to limit sensitive talk to the secured room, or to the president's limousine. Nevermind that the leaders generally moved about in golf carts.