Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans
for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be
limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI
all over again?
* * *
PUTIN URGES BUSH NOT TO ACT ALONE ON MISSILE SHIELD by
FRANK BRUNI http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/17/world/17PREX.html
Clear disagreements, clearly stated, with conversations that will
involve staffs to be ongoing.
No decisions where decisions were not possible, nor concessions,
so far as that goes. But clear linkage with the system of alliances
involving the other nations, as well. Berle might have approved.
At the level of things possible, it went well for all concerned.
Here is the whole article, with a comment.
i "BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia, June 16 — Russian President
Vladimir V. Putin cautioned President Bush today about developing a
missile defense shield without Moscow's consent, telling Mr. Bush
that such an action could seriously strain relations between the two
countries.
"But that warning was a surprisingly gentle one, tucked into a
news conference here at which the two leaders' manners and words
were striking for their warmth and relative ease.
"And it was coupled with upbeat statements from Mr. Bush and
Mr. Putin, who were meeting for the first time, that suggested at
least some possibility of cooperation on the kinds of security
issues that have divided Washington and Moscow in the past. In fact,
rarely have the two nations' leaders so surpassed the limited
expectations of their meeting.
"Addressing the topic of missile defense at the news
conference, which followed a meeting between the presidents that
lasted about two hours, the Russian president made his opposition to
Mr. Bush's plans for missile defense, which is also shared by some
of the United States' European allies, abundantly clear.
""Any unilateral actions can only make more complicated
various problems and issues," Mr. Putin said, referring to
the recent signals from the Bush administration that it would press
on with missile defense even if allies and the Russians continued to
object.
"The Russian president also called the 1972 Antiballistic
Missile Treaty between Washington and Moscow, which would have to be
amended or abandoned if Mr. Bush proceeded with his grand plan, "the
cornerstone of the modern architecture of international
security."
"And he said that when it came to "strategic stability," "the
differences in approaches do exist and, naturally, in one short
moment it's impossible to overcome all of them." (more)
rshowalter
- 04:46pm Jun 16, 2001 EST (#5289
of 5291)
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
"But," he continued, "I am convinced that ahead of us
we have a constructive dialogue and the will to talk about these
topics, to discuss, to hear, to listen."
"That statement sounded like conventional diplomatic etiquette
but for the fact that Mr. Putin declined to dwell on disagreements
about the ABM Treaty or the promise or danger of a missile shield,
and he demonstrated a warmth toward Mr. Bush.
"Mr. Bush, for his part, was all smiles and frequent laughs as
the pair talked to a throng of journalists on the grounds of a
16th-century castle nestled in the Alps near the Slovenian capital
of Ljubljana.
"He and Mr. Putin stood just a few yards apart at lecterns set
up so that from the viewpoint of television cameras a wooden bridge
in the backdrop seemed to collapse the distance between them and
connect them.
"I am convinced that he and I can build a relationship of
mutual respect and candor," Mr. Bush said. "And I'm convinced that
it's important for the world that we do so."
"I looked the man in the eye," Mr. Bush later added. "I was
able to get a sense of his soul." From this, the president said, he
was convinced that Mr. Putin was "a man deeply committed to his
country and the best interests of his country."
"Mr. Bush's aides said beforehand that Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin
would not be trying to hammer out an accord of any kind and their
discussion of the missile shield and the ABM Treaty would not be
detailed.
"Afterward, administration officials said that was indeed the
case, and the conversation between the leaders had ranged wide and
far, giving them an opportunity to get to know each other.
"Indeed, today's events turned as much as anything else on the
leaders' ability to establish rapport with each other. From outward
signs, Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin seemed to get along rather well.
"They had been scheduled to meet for about 30 minutes with
only notetakers and translators present, and then for a longer time
with their senior advisers present as well. But the private part of
the discussion ended up lasting more than 90 minutes, leaving only
about 20 minutes for the wider circle to meet.
Comment: Note problems with TIME -- that's a
reason mechanisms with more tolerance for word count, and
complexity, are necessary - and especially so when the cultural
gaps, and problems of history, are so great as this.
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