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Putin Reconfirms Intention to Reduce Strategic Weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday reaffirmed Russia's readiness to reduce strategic weapons and its commitment to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.
During his Monday meeting with visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the Kremlin, Putin said he hoped the ongoing high-level Russian-U.S. security consultations could lead to " agreements on offensive armaments and defense systems."
The President stressed Russia was willing to learn specific military and technical information on U.S. proposals for cutting strategic arms, among which are thresholds of armaments reduction, timetable of reduction as well as what "measures of control and confidence building" will be taken.
"I am pleased that the agreements I reached with (U.S. President George W.) Bush in Ljubljana and Genoa are being put into practice at a high level," he added.
Putin meanwhile reaffirmed Russia's commitment to the 1972 Anti- Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, saying Russia "undoubtedly" ties the treaty to the START-I and START-II treaties on offensive and defensive weapons.
Rumsfeld, who arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit, thanked Putin for a warm welcome and hoped his talks with Russian defense officials would be fruitful.
Before meeting with Putin, Rumsfeld held a one-hour talk with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov on Monday morning, starting a new round of Russian-U.S. consultations on strategic stability and the national missile defense (NMD) issues.
Ivanov reaffirmed Moscow's adherence to the preservation of the 1972 ABM Treaty during the meeting, saying that Russia "still regards the ABM Treaty as the leading element in the agreements that make up the foundation of strategic stability."
"It is impossible to speak about the ABM Treaty separately from other accords, including ones on strategic offensive armaments," Ivanov emphasized.
The minister said Russia was satisfied with "the existing multi- level system of international treaties (on security and stability) and had no desire to withdraw from this or that treaty."
But he meanwhile said Russia is willing to listen to the U.S. reasoning on these matters, including the ABM issue.
Russia will not reject a new defense structure for security, if it is possible, for Russia and the U.S. are no longer enemies to each other, said Ivanov.
"Today, the two sides have come very close to the idea that any stability system needs a system of control and verification," he added.
Rumsfeld noted he would like to continue "intensive and constructive" consultations with Ivanov on all international security problems with great interest.
He said the ABM issue is part of a broader spectrum of relations between Russia and the U.S., and is viewed as especially important by President Bush in consideration of the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. is currently at the stage of scientific research and development on a future missile defense, and is willing to negotiate with Russia on the matter, he noted.
Rumsfeld said the ongoing consultations are preparing the soil for future negotiations that focus on the connection between the spheres of offensive and defensive arms.
During their meeting, the two ministers decided to meet in Naples in September. The consultations at the expert level will also continue in the same month in Moscow.
Russian First Deputy Chief of the General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky will lead the Russian delegation, while U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith will lead the American delegation.
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