President Bush may have further irritated Russia with his comments at a democracy conference in the Czech Republic.

At the conference organized by former dissidents, Bush has said Russia has "derailed" once-promising democratic reforms. He says reforms that once promised to empower Russians "have
been derailed, with troubling implications."

However, Bush says the U.S. and Russia can still have a strong relationship, in spite of the perceived lack of progress under the
leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bush says the U.S. "can maintain a friendship and push a nation toward democracy at the same time."
Bush's comments come as Russia has expressed its displeasure over U.S. plans to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe. Putin has indicated he may boost his nation's military potential in
response.