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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation US-Russia Discussions, Washington, September 20
I. Remarks by Russian Foreign & Defence Minister'Transcript of statement[s] by Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov to Russian and Foreign Media Following Meeting with US President George W. Bush, Washington, September 20, 2002'; Russian Foreign Ministry (http://www.mid.ru). Foreign Minister Ivanov: In the talk just held with the President of the United States, George Bush, the focus was on the implementation of the agreements which had been reached by the Russian and US Presidents to develop the strategic partnership between our countries. Those partner relations between our countries, as the Presidents stress, bear a strategic character and rest on the principles which were set forth in the Joint Russian-US Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, signed during Mr. Bush's visit to Moscow. Within the framework of this partnership we are expanding our cooperation in the area of strategic stability, in the area of combating joint threats and challenges and cooperating in the interest of international stability and security. Designed to become an important element of this cooperation is the four-sided Consultative Group for Strategic Security with the participation of the defense and foreign ministers of Russia and the USA, which was established by the Presidents of our two countries. The first meeting of this group will take place today and we expect that its work will bear a permanent character. At it we will be considering all the issues of mutual concern, from strategic stability to regional conflicts. Defense Minister Ivanov: In the course of my two-day stay in Washington and meetings with the heads of all the agencies concerned with security, we frankly discussed the whole range of questions of our bilateral relations as regards strategic stability and regional conflicts. Today we are launching a mechanism of the bilateral group for implementation of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty. In the framework of contacts between the two defense ministries working groups already exist that not for the first month have been working not only on these issues, but have been considering, for example, the possibility of cooperation between Russia and the United States in the missile defense field as well. We, of course, very thoroughly discussed the situation in crisis and in hot spots of the world, particularly from the point of view of terror threats and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. ... The American side stated in detail to us its approaches to the situation in Iraq. In our turn, we explained and handed over to the heads of the US security services and the Defense Department irrefutable data proving official Georgian representatives' connection with terrorists in Georgia. II. Statement & Comments by Russian Foreign Minister'Transcript of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov's Press Conference at US National Press Club, Washington, September 20, 2002'; Russian Foreign Ministry (http://www.mid.ru). StatementAs you know, today US President George W. Bush received the Defense Minister of Russia, Sergei Ivanov, and me. Also today, a telephone conversation took place between our presidents. So active a political dialogue between our states, including at the top level, vividly demonstrates the new level of mutual relations which is enshrined in the Joint Declaration on the New Strategic Partnership between Russia and the USA, signed in the course of the visit of the US President, Mr. Bush, to Moscow in May, this year. Russia follows the principle enunciated in this document. Russia is interested in developing a constructive partnership, predictable relations with the United States of America. The development of just this kind of relations meets the interests of our two peoples, and it meets the interests of the international community. We are convinced that by relying upon these principles, Russia and the USA can jointly search for answers to new threats and challenges, to the regional problems still persistent in the world. It was important for us to hear from US President Bush that the United States also intends to firmly adhere to these principles in relations with Russia, which the US administration regards as a long-term strategic priority. Therefore, unfortunately, I'll have to disappoint those who in recent days have begun to speculate about a cooling-off in Russian-American relations. That simply isn't so. Today's telephone conversation between our presidents, and the talks with the US President, with the Secretary of State and with the Secretary of Defense have once again convinced us of this. We attach special significance to cooperation between our two states in the fight against international terrorism. Essentially [for the first time] since World War II Russia and the US have again become allies, allies in the fight against this highly dangerous challenge to the world community. We have consistently stood up for preservation and strengthening of the broad antiterrorist coalition, set up after the tragic events of September 11 in New York and Washington. The chief power of this coalition lies in the unity of action of all its participants and firm reliance upon the UN Charter and on international law. On [a] constructive cooperation between Russia and the US, which are the largest nuclear powers, the future of strategic stability in the world depends in many respects. That was why the Presidents of our countries took a decision this May during the summit in Moscow to establish the Russian-US Constructive Group for Strategic Security made up of Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers. The first meeting of this group was held today. We thoroughly discussed ways to implement the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, signed in Moscow. We examined the problems of transparency in cooperation in missile defense and a full range of nonproliferation problems, including the topic of the [G-8] global partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction, which had been considered at the summit in Kananaskis, Canada. I want to at once stress that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and I are satisfied with the frankness and substantive character of our dialogue and for our part are ready to continue that constructive work. In the same constructive spirit we will be looking for ways to solve the still-lingering differences. Anyway, I am convinced, and our American partners share this opinion, that after today's meetings many approaches, positions of each other have become clearer and this is very important. ... Among international problems it is needless to say that we paid special attention to the situation around Iraq. I want to at once stress that Moscow is strongly not only for the preservation, but also for the all-round strengthening of the regime for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We will be working towards this goal, both in the framework of existing multilateral mechanisms and at the bilateral level. Guided by just this position, we consistently sought the unfolding in Iraq of the activity of international inspectors strictly in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. By joint efforts of the international community, where a key role was played by Russia and the USA, and, in particular, the remarks of US President Bush at the UN General Assembly, we managed to get the consent of the Iraqi leadership to the return of international inspectors to the country without any preliminary conditions. Now international inspectors can start working and give us an objective and comprehensive answer to the question of concern to us all: Are there in Iraq or not any programs for the development and production of weapons of mass destruction? It is in the interest of Russia and the USA, it is in the interest of the whole international community for inspectors to return to Iraq as soon as possible and start their work. The UN Security Council will have to carefully see to it that these activities are fully consistent with the approved procedures and that for the inspectors there are no hindrances whatsoever. We believe that if the international community continues to act concertedly, we will achieve compliance by Iraq with both these and all the other resolutions earlier adopted by the UN Security Council. ... Questions and AnswersQuestion: Mr. Minister, according to the US Secretary of State, existing resolutions concerning inspections in Iraq have serious deficiencies and to overcome them it is necessary to adopt new resolutions. What is your opinion on that score? Answer: As there will probably be other questions related to Iraq too, I would like to answer this question in greater detail and touch upon some other aspects of the problem. First of all, I want to stress that Russia and the United States together with other nations stand up for Iraq's full compliance with all UN Security Council resolutions on Iraqi settlement. We together sought consistently the return of international inspectors to Iraq, who left the country in December 1998. We are together interested in having reliable and complete information on the problem of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We think that the best way to have such information is the return of international inspectors with the objective of restarting their work. Our experience of the inspectors' work in Iraq shows that despite the complexities that used to arise, thanks to the work of the inspectors very much was achieved over the eight years in the field of the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. Approximately 7 thousand inspections were carried out; the inspectors' work helped clarify the situation relating to the missile and nuclear dossiers, and in significant measure with regard to the chemical dossier; questions that still remained open were mainly those connected with biological weapons. Therefore, we have accumulated a considerable experience regarding inspectors and the appropriate procedures for their fulfillment of their objectives. At present there has been formed a team of inspectors with Mr. Blix in the lead. Agreement exists that on September 30 Mr. Blix will hold consultations with representatives of Iraqi authorities to agree on the technical questions necessary for unfolding the inspectors' activity. Then Mr. Blix will have to inform the UN Security Council, which he directly obeys, about the readiness to deploy the mission of inspectors. With regard to a discussion of this matter in the Security Council it will be clear whether any supplementary mandates or additional decisions are needed for the resumption of the inspectors' work. We understand the concern of the US administration and interest of the US administration in the effective work of the inspectors and that they shouldn't be hindered in any way. And we share these approaches. We are likewise interested in seeing that the inspectors work effectively and give an answer to the questions we have asked. US Secretary of State Colin Powell and I agreed to continue to consult on this matter. We will carefully analyze the proposals of the American side for ensuring effective work by the inspectors. I want to at once stress because in the press over the last few days there have appeared various thoughts or speculations that Russia supposedly barred an American resolution in the Security Council. There was no resolution, either American or French or Russian, on this question, nor is there. We have held and continue to hold consultations. Question: ... Will there be a new war in Iraq or not? Answer: ... Russia has repeatedly stressed that it is necessary to use all of the politico-diplomatic means to solve this problem. And we have not only kept saying this, we are in practice doing it. War is always a last resort, which never goes without loss of life and grave consequences. And so I am convinced that the international community is interested in making the most use of political possibilities for resolving the situation. Question: A new strategic doctrine of national security, put forward by the administration of President Bush, has been published today; it presupposes the possibility of dealing preemptive strikes at countries posing a threat to the USA. How do you assess this document? Answer: I am not yet familiar with this document and I will hardly be able to share any final judgments on this document right now. But, in principle, I can say that Russia has always advocated and continues to advocate that any use of force against any sovereign state should be made only with the approval of the UN Security Council. This is clearly written down in the UN Security Council and all UN states should comply with it. ... Question: As you know, the US administration is currently developing a new preventive strike doctrine, to enable the state to carry out a preemptive strike for purposes of self-defense against potential adversaries. Is this doctrine applicable to the situation in the Pankisi Gorge; that is, will Russia be able to use similar provisions to this doctrine for solving the question on the Russian-Georgian border? Answer: ... As to the Pankisi Gorge, you know that Russian President Putin has declared that if terrorist actions against Russia from the territory of Georgia continue, then Russia reserves for itself the right, based on Article 51 of the UN Charter, to take action to put a stop to the activity of those terrorists. ... Question: Over the last decade since the end of the Cold War it was repeatedly asserted that there existed definite mechanisms guaranteeing the nonproliferation of biological, nuclear and chemical weapons. Are these mechanisms still effective and do they apply to Russia's potential contacts with Iran and other countries? Answer: As I already said, Russia firmly stands up for development and bolstering of all the nonproliferation regimes. All the previously established regimes are surely operative. While I cannot speak for the entire world, I can do for Russia by reassuring you that we firmly adhere to all our commitments regarding observance of these regimes. At the same time we also realize that in violation of these regimes attempts can be made to develop and produce weapons of mass destruction. This is particularly dangerous now with the increased activity of international terrorism and various extremist groups. If weapons of mass destruction should get into their hands, that would pose a threat to all humanity. For this reason we stand not only for the preservation, but also for bolstering of the nonproliferation regimes. This topic ranks among the priorities of Russian-American relations, of contacts between Russia and NATO and of many other multilateral forums. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |