ACCESSION NUMBER:231579
FILE ID:PO-206
DATE:06/16/92
TITLE:IT REALLY IS A NEW KIND OF MOSCOW-WASHINGTON SUMMIT (06/16/92)
TEXT:*92061606.POL
IT REALLY IS A NEW KIND OF MOSCOW-WASHINGTON SUMMIT
(Democratic partnership replaces Cold War era) (570)
By Russell Dybvik
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- President Bush welcomed Russian President Yeltsin to the
White House June 16 for what is characterized by officials on both sides as
"a new kind of summit."
To begin with, Yeltsin is staying in the presidential guest residence, Blair
House, just across the street from the White House. Previous Moscow
leaders have closeted themselves in the Russian embassy, blocks away.
No huge joint press center has been set up for this summit either.
Reporters who cover it will use their regular White House, State
Department, U.S. Capitol and Russian Federation Visitors Press Passes to
attend press briefings and public events.
Prior to all previous U.S.-Soviet summits, large delegations from both sides
labored for months in Geneva, trying to whittle away objections so that the
leaders could sign arms control agreements. While the atmosphere is
"businesslike" at this summit too, senior officials on both sides are
keeping a lower profile.
Nonetheless, Bush and Yeltsin, on their first day of meetings, announced an
agreement to make drastic cuts in their nuclear arsenals, eliminating the
most destructive of their missiles.
Bush said the two sides will reduce their arsenals well below the totals
agreed to only last year in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and will
eliminate all multiple warhead missiles. He said the two sides also had
agreed to explore the possibility of building a global defense against
limited ballistic missile attack.
Another aspect of this summit is that an unusually detailed agenda for the
Bush-Yeltsin talks was made public in advance. Baker said the two leaders
would focus on the full range of U.S.-Russian relations -- political,
economic and military.
"Our hope is not just to exchange views now but to chart a new agenda in our
relations, an agenda built on democratic values that can guide us well into
the future," Baker said, with democracy and freedom the hallmarks.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era, a new kind of summit," Bush told
Yeltsin at White House arrival ceremonies, "not a meeting between two
powers struggling for global supremacy, but between two partners trying to
build a democratic peace."
Baker reminded White House reporters June 15 that Russia is now democratic
and the captive nations of the former Soviet Union are free. "These facts
create an entirely different context for this Washington summit," the
secretary pointed out, "presenting opportunities that were, indeed,
unimaginable during the Soviet era."
In his talks with Yeltsin, Bush will focus on building a democratic peace
with Russia, Baker said, "built on our shared democratic values, not
competition nor a balance of terror."
1
The two presidents as well will consider a bilateral trade agreement, most
favored nation tariff status for Russia and the possibility of a bilateral
investment treaty. They are also planning to sign a charter outlining the
principles of relations for a democratic partnership.
The new U.S.-Russian partnership is "one of deeds, not of paper," Baker told
Yeltsin on greeting him on his arrival in Washington "It is a working
partnership that can and will produce results." And he assured Yeltsin the
U.S. would "match Russia's progress with America's solid support" as his
political and economic reform efforts advance.
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