Politics / Bill Clinton Bill and Vlad Pal Around Davos Sec. of State's hubby wastes no time slipping into global role By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff Posted Jan 30, 2009 7:55 AM CST Copied Russian Prime Minsiter Vladimir Putin, center, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, left, seen during a reception hosted by Putin for participants of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (AP Photo ) With the ink barely dry on Hillary Clinton’s confirmation as secretary of state, her husband is already glad-handing on the world stage, holding meetings with foreign leaders at Davos that culminated with a 90-minute sit-down with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. At a private party, Putin toasted Clinton as “our good friend” before the chums disappeared into a private room for a long talk, the New York Observer reports. Neither man divulged the subject of their talks, and there is no indication that any specific message was delivered by Clinton. But the Obama administration has said it will seek Russian cooperation on various issues, like Iran’s nuclear program, and Putin’s remarks at Davos yesterday encouraged better relations between Russia and the West. (More Bill Clinton stories.) Report an error