12 March 1998
TRANSCRIPT: GORE, CHERNOMYRDIN AT PRESS BRIEFING MARCH 11
(At completion of GCC10) (6680)
Washington -- Vice President Al Gore and Russian Chairman of the
Government and Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin spoke with
enthusiasm about the results of the tenth session of the U.S.-Russian
Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation (the
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission), and the five-year history of the GCC at
a press conference March 11.
"Trade between our two nations has increased by more than 50 percent
since we began our work," Gore said. "Now the United States is the
single largest investor in Russia's dynamic marketplace. And Russia is
putting its fiscal house in order, inflation is under control, and
Russia's economy has turned the corner on growth, promising the first
upswing in a decade."
He added, "I'm very proud of our Commission and the role that it has
played in helping to bring about these changes and these improvements
in the relationship between our two countries."
Chernomyrdin noted that U.S.-Russian relations are "a key element in
international stability. Cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in
socioeconomic, scientific, and technological spheres has immediate
impact on the quality of life for people in both our countries.
Therefore, our unequivocal choice is partnership with the U.S. on the
basis of equality and on a mutually beneficial basis."
He said that "over these five difficult years, uneasy years, gigantic
changes have occurred in our two countries; in our relations as well;
in our mentality, the mentality of our people. And I will relate many
of these things to the work of our Commission. Sitting at one table,
together in one room, discussing these very difficult problems of our
life, these epoch-making problems, we were able to find decisions. And
many of those decisions, basically, are now being translated into
life."
Chernomyrdin, who along with Gore met with President Clinton before
the press conference at the end of the GCC tenth session, said they
discussed expectations for a U.S.-Russia summit and that he hoped it
would occur by the middle of this year.
Gore and Chernomyrdin answered several questions from reporters,
including one about their scheduled visit with executives of U.S.
high-tech firms in California March 12. Such a meeting demonstrates
that both the United States and Russia "are focused on the
opportunities instead of the past. We're oriented toward the future
instead of the legacy of conflict which we have put behind us."
During his presentation, Gore said he was pleased that Russia "has
established new and stronger legal authority to keep sensitive
technologies from leaking beyond Russia's borders."
He added, "Implementation is key. Building on previous export control
cooperation between our two countries, we have agreed to expand and
intensify our collaboration."
Asked about the issue of Russian missile technology exports to Iran,
Gore quoted Chernomyrdin as saying it is in Russia's own national
interest "to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
and to prevent the proliferation of delivery systems, such as
ballistic missiles. Russia has no interest in seeing these kinds of
dangerous materials and weapons and systems spread to any of its
neighbors."
Russian and U.S. experts are working on a joint team "very intensively
to develop ways to further the Russian national interest and
simultaneously address the concerns that we have expressed," Gore
said.
Chernomyrdin cited U.S.-Russian cooperation on issues such as
disarmament, noting that "the whole world is aware right now that the
United States of America and Russia, above all, are addressing the
issues of disarmament. These two great powers are doing so. The most
powerful and most armed states have set their first priority
....disarmament, and above all, elimination of nuclear arms of mass
destruction."
Following is an unofficial transcript of the press briefing from
Legi-Slate; however, there are no restrictions on distribution:
(Begin transcript)
NEWS BRIEFING WITH VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER
VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN
SUBJECT: THE U.S.-RUSSIAN COMMISSION
ON ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION
(GORE-CHERNOMYRDIN COMMISSION)
OLD EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11,1998
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the White House.
Prime Minister Chernomyrdin has just had a very lengthy and very
substantive meeting with President Clinton in the Oval Office. And
this ceremony marks the conclusion of the formal sessions of this, our
10th meeting of our Commission.
We reviewed with President Clinton all of the work that we have
accomplished over those 10 sessions during the last five years. And we
also discussed what I believe is a remarkable catalogue of successes
since our two presidents asked us to create this Joint Commission,
some five years ago, when they met in Vancouver.
In so many ways, the U.S.-Russian Commission on Economic and
Technological Cooperation has made a real difference in the
relationship between our two nations and in the lives of the American
people and the Russian people. We have opened up opportunities in
Russia for American trade and investment. We have nurtured new, once
unimaginable cooperation on nuclear security, infectious diseases,
science and technology, environmental protection, the development of
small businesses, the conversion of massive Cold War industries. We've
explored outer space and cyberspace, and we have attacked all manner
of problems and opportunities.
Just look at some of the new realities which have emerged over the
past five years of our work. Trade between our two nations has
increased by more than 50 percent since we began our work -- trade
from Russia to the United States, from the United States to Russia.
It's been very good for both of our countries.
Now the United States is the single largest investor in Russia's
dynamic marketplace. And Russia is putting its fiscal house in order,
inflation is under control, and Russia's economy has turned the corner
on growth, promising the first upswing in a decade. Optimism prevails
universally among those who are familiar with what is going on in
Russia.
I'm very proud of our Commission and the role that it has played in
helping to bring about these changes and these improvements in the
relationship between our two countries.
On a personal note, I speak for all of my colleagues on the American
side, and we have the first team here -- I hope they will forgive me
for not mentioning and acknowledging each one of them individually,
but our commission has grown in its complexity and in its task to the
point where now, when more than half the president's Cabinet is deeply
involved in the work of this Commission; agency heads and department
heads are really digging into the details of how we can solve problems
together. Speaking for all of them, if I may, I would like to say that
we are inspired and touched by the courage of our Russian colleagues,
by the dedication of our Russian colleagues, and by the leadership of
Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin in bringing this remarkable team of
men and women here and to meet us when we go to Russia, and to give us
the privilege of working hand-in-hand on problems that are worthy of
our best efforts -- because we know that our efforts are making a
tremendous difference for the future.
It's exciting work. And the excitement of the accomplishments we have
achieved together pulls us along toward each successive meeting. It
seems almost unbelievable that this is the 10th meeting. But when you
look back over the work we've accomplished, it is easy to believe that
it's been at least 10 meetings.
I'm privileged to be able to sit beside my friend, Prime Minister
Chernomyrdin, and work with him in this remarkable undertaking. We
have spent many, many long hours together over these years. And again,
on a personal note, I would like to say how grateful I am for his
leadership, for his frankness, and for his tenacity and stamina in
pushing our common interests forward. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister,
on behalf of all of us who have worked on this Commission. And thank
you for the lessons that I have been able to learn from our
partnership.
But now, some five years and 10 meetings on, Viktor Stepanovich and I
know that we face a challenge, one as nuanced and complex as we have
ever confronted, and one that requires no less of our time and
imagination and boldness. That challenge is the future. We must take
steps now to ensure that the reform and progress we have worked to
achieve can become self-sustaining and systemic.
The true measure of our success will be when our Commission itself
will no longer be necessary as a catalyst of reform. We are creating a
new reality. And I believe if we do our jobs right, if we focus
systematically not on what governments alone can do to solve our
problems but on what citizens can do, left to their own ingenuity and
creativity, to improve their lives and build their nations, their
communities, strengthen their families and secure their destinies,
then we will have done our jobs very well indeed.
And in order to achieve that goal, we still have work to do.
As we look ahead, I believe our Commission must focus increasingly on
how we can help build and nurture a truly entrepreneurial economy,
both in the United States and in Russia. The majority of new jobs in
both of our countries are created by entrepreneurs -- small
businesses, new start-up enterprises. The energy and imagination and
creativity among the Russian people is just like the energy and
imagination and creativity that we see and feel every day here in the
United States.
The future is exciting because I believe we will be able to make it
possible for all of these men and women who wish to reach out for
their dreams to be able to do so. Our citizens have a limitless
capacity to innovate and create and compete from the bottom up.
Also, I think our Commission can build stronger ties between the
grassroots of our two societies, for linking our investors and
business people, our officials, and schools and hospitals and
libraries and students in cities and towns and villages all across our
lands in a new and expanding web of interaction and engagement.
Third, our Commission should look for ways to empower our private
sectors to become the sustaining engines of reform and growth in our
two societies. Government cannot be the answer to everything. It has a
role to play, of course, but for our societies to thrive and prosper,
governments must encourage and not stifle ingenuity. It is our
stakeholders, our entrepreneurs and builders and workers and farmers
and business people who are the best bet that we have to secure a
bright future.
Tomorrow, we will travel to California to visit Silicon Valley and
view first-hand some of the remarkable achievements of American
entrepreneurs. We also will meet with Americans and Russians who have
developed remarkable forms of commercial cooperation, including
commercial cooperation in space. And we will explore with regional
leaders from our Pacific Coast and Russia's Far East, how we can
deepen interaction between our citizens.
So just as we have a tremendous amount to be proud of as we look back
over these 10 meetings, we also have much hard work left to do as we
consolidate our successes and move our relationship to a new phase of
maturity.
A specific area the prime minister and I discussed was our common
concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
about the need for both of our countries to work together aggressively
on this problem, which, after all, affects the security of both our
nations.
I'm pleased that Russia, pursuant to its policies, has established new
and stronger legal authority to keep sensitive technologies from
leaking beyond Russia's borders.
Implementation is key. Building on previous export control cooperation
between our two countries, we have agreed to expand and intensify our
collaboration. By working together on export controls on weapons,
weapons materials, and dual-use goods, I believe we can and we will
strengthen existing international non-proliferation regimes and
promote regional stability.
So I am very proud of our work thus far. I think we have taken a
number of important new steps toward building a fundamentally new
relationship with Russia and the Russian people.
I thank all who have contributed to the work of our Commission, and I
look forward with great anticipation to our next meeting in Moscow
this summer.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great privilege for me to
introduce Prime Minister Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin. And after
his statement, we will be happy to take your questions.
Prime Minister Chernomyrdin? (Applause.)
(Note The prime minister's remarks are provided through interpreter.)
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: Distinguished Vice President, distinguished
ladies and gentlemen, today is far from a usual day, which has been
referred to earlier by my colleague. All of us, in fact, are
participants in this eventful day. We have basically completed the
first phase of our 10th jubilee session.
Five years have passed since the time of inception of this work, and
naturally this is very rewarding. I can underscore, esteemed Al Gore,
under each word you have uttered as regards the work done jointly.
The word "jubilee" was invented by ancient Romans a long time ago --
too long, the word "jubilee" -- they started counting from 10, and
this is exactly the case. And we have a real jubilee; that's the 10th
session. And once again, this is a coincidence but a nice one.
Therefore, we had a three-year jubilee; that was the intermediary
stage. But now let's celebrate as we should. And today we deserve
that, rightfully.
First of all, thank you very much, all of you who started jointly with
us, doing this work. And behind all these deeds and decisions of ours,
there are hundreds of people, highly qualified experts, government
figures, political figures, who have been involved in preparation of
these major documents for our two countries.
Therefore, on this occasion and because of the fact that those who
started with us are in this room or elsewhere not in this room --
anyway, I want to tell you all thank you very much for this great and
outstanding effort, difficult, complicated, which we've been pursuing
today, frankly speaking, for the sake of ourselves, our countries; for
the sake of our great powers; for the sake of normal civilized
relations, which we have been building between Russia and the United
States of America.
The Commission over these years has turned into one of the major
driving forces of development of the multifaceted Russian-U.S.
cooperation and has gained, deservingly I should say, directly, its
high reputation and authority, not only in Russia or the U.S. but far
beyond our two states.
And a jubilee is always an important benchmark, which allows us not
only to assess the past distance, but also and above all, to set out
plans for the future. Historically, five years is not much, just a
moment, one-twentieth of the past century. However, that was quite
enough, based on the first initial results, to be convinced that the
reference points chosen were right. We can now fine-tune those
reference points and move ahead, raising the targets and defining
newer and newer horizons in our relationship.
Five years ago, when our two presidents decided to set up this
Commission, Russian-U.S. economic relations were quite modest in
nature. Let's just cite the fact that the bilateral turnover, for all
practical purposes, was reduced to buying grains from the United
States, and deliveries of some limited numbers of raw materials, which
were sufficient -- vodka, of course, and caviar. Not bad, too, but
that was all. (laughter)
Our scientific ties were limited to some separate contacts in space
programs, and there were few serious investments from the U.S. at the
time. All of that needed to be drastically changed and, I believe,
this is exactly what we've been doing here. We started with the fact
that we defined the major aspects and trends which could, in a short
period of time, provide for this necessary breakthrough. These turned
out to be space, energy, setting conditions for normal trade and
commerce. In the framework of the Commission, we have eight committees
working -- on capital markets, several working groups, and yesterday,
we discussed the fact that now there is a need to set up a new
important committee. That's the committee on nuclear affairs.
Sufficient space is occupied by the questions having to do with the
quality of life of people of our countries -- that's environment and
health care. The Commission is immeasurably expanded, diversified
greatly in its geography and activities. For several years now, there
has been a successful project in Far Eastern Russia and the western
part of the United States which was mentioned yesterday by Al Gore.
Tomorrow, we will continue this work.
We have compiled a catalogue of the achievements of the Commission,
and everybody interested can find answers to many questions, basically
can perhaps find themselves mentioned there.
And the original investment programs are also gaining momentum. The
turnover has been doubled. American investments total one-third of all
foreign capital in Russia now, which already has been mentioned here
as well. The companies of our two countries have started to implement
major and sometimes multi-billion (dollar) projects, not only in the
oil sector, hut also in the high-tech sector -- for example, aerospace
research and industry. And if today jointly we have been building the
missile engines of the new generation, this gives evidence to the fact
that there has been change, meaningful and substantial, positive, in
our relationship.
We've been sufficiently moving ahead in the space research here, and
Russians and Americans now can on a regular basis watch on TV how
space shuttles are docking at the Mir station. This has become
routine, and I'm sure 10 years from now the people of our countries in
the same manner will no longer be surprised about the news concerning
the operation of the International Space Station.
Serious progress has been achieved in energy. The total volume of U.S.
investments on the discussed projects only in the fuel and energy
complex soon -- let's say over 15, 20 years -- can be to the tune of
70 to 80 U.S. billion (dollars).
We've been working hard in the fuel efficiency, and stability has been
achieved in nuclear research. And I believe our relationship has
become predictable and safe and to a great extent due to the fact that
we've been able to find common ground, both as regards the questions
of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and also what has to be done on
the reduction of arms and processing of weapon-grade uranium for the
purposes of energy.
Both to Russia and the U.S., it's of principal importance that we are
cooperating in implementation of the defense conversion facilities. We
have created so many lethal weaponries over the past years that today,
to clean up those piles of weaponry, it will be possible only jointly.
And our Commission has been working in this area through the operation
of the Committee on Conversion. And in the framework of that
committee, also having to do with elimination of offensive weapons and
setting up storage facilities of fissible materials, we have already
invested basically $1 billion. And I think that's not bad, but that's
only a beginning.
Then we have another asset in the Committee of Technologies and
Committee on Health Care, Committee on Agribusinesses, and the younger
Forum on Capital Markets, which is now also gaining tempo.
And a few words, sir, regarding your cooperation on environmental
protection, if I may. To a certain degree, this is a measure of
civilization and responsibility for our civilization. We have achieved
a lot. But incidentally, this is the area where most conspicuous
results are never enough.
Therefore, we, jointly with the vice president, are intending to
achieve global (equalization ?) of all directions of the U.S.-Russian
interaction, starting from the environmental protection in the tapping
of the (North Sea ?) energy resources, going to the safe utilization
of strategic elimination of strategic weaponry.
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, the renowned French philosopher of the
19th century, Alexis de Tocqueville, once wrote, "Commerce makes
people more inclined to be free and deprives them of this (penchant ?)
for revolution." This is like a song to us. I believe these words
could be fully attributed to our Commission.
Its activities go far beyond the purely economic aspects. Over the
past years the Commission has turned into an important stabilizer of
U.S.-Russian relations, which attributes the necessary durability and
predictability of those relations with the principles being deeply
enshrined of the trust and openness which allow us to discuss any
questions today having to do with our relations in a quiet and
constructive manner, without unnecessary rhetoric or pressurizing on
each other, in an absolutely normal, business-like atmosphere.
This is also, incidentally, a great achievement, as well, of our work,
and I am convinced that we have all grounds to be satisfied with the
results achieved over the past five years.
But what really matters is that today is not the time for complacency,
it is the time to work further to expand the matrix of our business
ties, to bring it closer to the modern-day realities in economic
exchanges between the industrially developed countries.
The basic reference points are out there: first of all, the Helsinki
economic initiative of our two presidents, the joint U.S.-Russian
statement on the future work of the Commission, the documents adopted
-- remember -- in September of the last year, in 1997. It's also the
200-plus bilateral documents which define our activities absolutely,
specifically in those areas. Their contents are weighty and
responsible, and they lay down the major counters and parameters of
our economic relations now going beyond the year 2000. The work on
their implementation and practical work we're doing doesn't allow us
any room for mistakes. All the tasks assigned should be implemented
with good quality, timely, without any bottlenecks or deficiencies.
And this is our mood, and I am convinced that it's shared by our
American colleagues as well.
At this point, I would like to underscore the fact that the
Russian-U.S. relations are a constant value in modern relations. The
interaction of our two strategic powers is -- without overstating --
inevitable and necessary, and a key element in international
stability. Cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in socioeconomic,
scientific, and technological spheres has an immediate impact on the
quality of life for people in both our countries. Therefore, our
unequivocal choice is partnership with the U.S. on the basis of
equality and on a mutually beneficial basis.
When our relations are on the rise, when they develop stably, this
serves the best interests of our two states and the entire world
community. When they are tumbling, then the problems will multiply.
And I can say with certainty that the U.S.-Russian partnership has
passed the test of the time, despite the inevitable expedient moments
and insults of our political opponents.
Now the 21st millennium is coming, and our two countries find it
especially important to build bridges to the new millennium having
guaranteed a positive trend in the U.S.-Russian relations. And a lot
depends on economic relations; when they are as they should be between
the two great powers, then it's noticeably more stable, endurable --
that the whole set of inter-state relations will develop. Therefore,
we cannot afford to slow down; therefore, we need to remove the
remaining irritants and clean the impediments on the way which hamper
our life.
I hold in high regard the consultations which were held here in
Washington on the improvement of national systems of expert control.
Now they will be continued on a regular basis. And what we need to
seek is that such tangible and positive changes in our work happen
more and more. All of us, both Americans and Russians, have invested
so much effort to come back, and I am fully convinced in the rightness
of the path we have charted. This was said, incidentally, last year in
this room by Al Gore. And I, with full responsibility, can say as
well, that this is an absolutely correct statement, and this is not
just a statement, this is a position, this is our conviction, and we
will continue always to stick to this line.
(To Vice President Gore) Am I quoting you right? It sounds like a
song. (Applause.)
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: It's a duet!
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: I concur.
I will add just the fact that very shortly we will need to address
some urgent problems of the next U.S.-Russian summit, which I'm sure
will become a new benchmark in implementation of a joint course of
these two countries to develop partner relationship.
Just a few more things I'd like to mention. Over five years of work of
our Commission, serious qualitative changes have occurred in Russia
itself. The main thing, that out of the crisis path we have turned the
corner, where you have economic growth, investments, systemic change.
Russia has begun to work positively, and is gaining results
economically.
We too, back home, have good proverbs. Russians will bridle -- they
will take a long time, but then they will ride quickly. We like riding
quickly very much. So when we bridled this horse, we started to move.
Now, we'll need to gain tempo. And for all practical purposes, this
will mean that we'll set out better and more conditions and
possibilities for our partners even compared to last year.
I can just remember those high-flown words of the famous renowned
{contemporary?) compatriot Coolidge who said, "The cause of America is
business." Today, that's quite accurate to our idea regarding the role
we are choosing for ourselves. Naturally, this will set forth new
tasks before our Commission -- already has done so. But I am sure; I
would think that we will cope with these tasks.
And I can't help mentioning a few special words of thanks, naturally,
to my friend Albert Gore, who has made a major contribution to the
work of our commission. I will be frank with you. When we started to
work five years ago, it seemed to us: "Well, this is kind of an
abstract new concoction. They are inventing new things, new
commissions." But once we met, the two of us, we have agreed we will
work the way we should, seriously, as was our habit, according to our
background and according to our education.
And I must say that over these five difficult years, uneasy years,
gigantic changes have occurred in our two countries; in our relations
as well; in our mentality, the mentality of our people. And I will
relate many of these things to the work of our Commission. Sitting at
one table, together in one room, discussing these very difficult
problems of our life, these epoch-making problems, we were able to
find decisions. And many of those decisions, basically, are now being
translated into life.
Yes, once again I can repeat what I said yesterday; not everybody
likes our relations, not everybody is happy about this businesslike
relationship and results of our work, which we have today; both in our
country -- Zhirinovsky -- in your country, as well. I don't know who
has more of them. Let's look into it. But I am sure -- no need to
compete on that one! (Laughter.)
Okay, at this time we have more of them, I agree. (Laughter.) We are
getting used to it; we've gotten used to it.
But what we have laid down there as basis, what we have come up to
with, the whole world is aware right now that the United States of
America and Russia, above all, are addressing the issues of
disarmament. These two great powers are doing so. The most powerful
and most armed states have set their first priority and, in the face
of their -- on behalf of their president -- disarmament and one more
time disarmament, and above all, elimination of nuclear arms of mass
destruction.
And whoever would provoke us today, whoever -- bring in Iran, Iraq,
whoever -- many others. No, nothing will happen. Not even
encroachments; on the contrary, all our work will be geared towards
elimination of what has been accumulated over many years. All of that
which worked against our people, against our states. This will not
happen.
Our Commission, since we've decided to do so, will do its best to
materialize those strategic purposes which were assigned before us,
and I take pride in the fact that today, myself -- I was lucky to work
with such an individual -- with my colleague, and I would think that
everybody should be proud of the fact that today, in our life, we were
so lucky that basically, this is a historic time, and we were happy to
live through this time. Just rejoice!
Thank you.
(Applause.)
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Bravo! Bravo!
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: (Through interpreter) I pronounce a toast
here. Very close.
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Well, after that very, very powerful and
inspiring statement, all of your questions may be answered.
(Laughter.) We may not -- but, I will recommend, Mr. Prime Minister --
first of all, let me say thank you very much for that statement. I
know that I speak for my colleagues here, on both sides of the
Commission, in saying that we have been inspired by your dedication
throughout.
I will recommend that we alternate questions, starting with one from a
Russian reporter, which I will ask you to pick, and then an American
reporter, and then we'll go back and forth.
So, a Russian reporter first.
Q: (Through interpreter.) My name is Andrei Chilov (sp). I am from
Tass agency. First of all, I'd like to congratulate the co-chairs of
the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. My question will go to the prime
minister.
I know everybody is interested in the contents of your conversation
with President Clinton, and above all, whether it has been possible to
advance in defining the venue of the summit and the time frame of the
presidential summit.
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: I would think that perhaps one of the aspects
we discussed with the U.S. president of the United States was exactly
this particular question. And to all of you here, to the members of
the Commission, this is quite clear that we've been developing the
necessary materials to introduce in the agenda of the presidential
summit. And we've set faith the task for us.
We'll take the bulk of this preparatory work in the economy. Politics,
that's for political agencies. But as regards presidents, we are
preparing strategic issues to them, which basically will be carried
out in the 21st century. And we hope and we believe that this summit
will occur this year, not later than in the middle of the year
somewhere. To do that, we need to address some questions. I'm talking
about myself, Russia, primarily, that's a very important, of a
principal nature, first and foremost.
And perhaps there is no need in hiding anything from you. These
questions have to do with our agreements. We have not ratified the
START II, which is very important, needs to be done, and it affects
all of us. So far our parliament are delaying this at this time. So I
believe that the government should be more purpose-oriented to do work
on that one. And all the agencies concerned should be involved. There
are some other questions. So they need to be elaborated for the
purposes of the meeting of our presidents.
And I am convinced this meeting will take place, and I'm sure it will
not be easy. By far, this should set forth the trend of our bilateral
relationship being aimed at the horizon of the 21st century.
And we'll do our best to seriously, very seriously prepare that
summit.
Q: Mr. Vice President, did you receive any assurances from Prime
Minister Chernomyrdin on the specific question of Russian missile
technology exports to Iran?
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Well, you heard the prime minister's statement a
moment ago about the Russian national interest defined in its own
terms to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and
to prevent the proliferation of delivery systems, such as ballistic
missiles. Russia has no interest in seeing these kinds of dangerous
materials and weapons and systems spread to any of its neighbors.
And we have developed a close enough working relationship so that we
are now able to have Russian experts and U.S. experts work in a joint
team very intensively to develop ways to further the Russian national
interest and simultaneously address the concerns that we have
expressed.
The policy enunciated by the prime minister in his conversations with
us, with President Clinton and me and with our American colleagues, in
his statement just now, in his statement on Russian television
earlier, the policy is exactly correct.
Implementation of the policy is always a challenge for the United
States as well as for Russia. And in meeting that challenge, this
joint team of experts is helping us immeasurably to make sure that we
both reach our common objectives. And were making tremendous progress,
and the new agreement on joint work pursuant to export controls
furthers this work.
We're making tremendous progress, and I'm grateful for the work that
we've been able to do together.
Now a Russian reporter.
Q: Viktor Stepanovich, you've mentioned already the inevitable ill of
political opponents in political life. Recently, our Duma has thrown
two banners of orange color, that is to say they said that, "It's
necessary to close that Commission of Gore-Chernomyrdin. We don't know
what they are doing there," they say. And then they voted the question
that procurator general should be discussing the question of sequester
of the budget. This can be referred, of course, to emotional outbursts
in the spring, but seriously speaking, what do you think about it?
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: What should I say? Anyhow, I think this is
about spring revival of emotions. I don't have any other viewpoint.
And I'm kind of hard put here in the United States, it's awkward to
discuss these questions here of our internal nature. And absolutely
not. Well, I haven't seen these things. I was told that this has
happened. So what can I say? Well, it implies that somebody's really
getting a strong impact of spring, I mean. But this will pass. And
when we get back home, we'll sort it out.
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: It could be El Nino. (Laughter.)
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: Might be. Might be.
Q: This is a question for both Vice President Gore and for Prime
Minister Chernomyrdin. Tomorrow, you're going to Silicon Valley, where
you'll visit with high-tech officials and talk about the technology
and the commercial technology that's going on in the United States.
Can you talk a little bit about how this contrasts with the great
secrecy that there was around high-tech issues in the past between the
government in Moscow and the government in Washington?
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: I think it's a dramatic illustration of the
improvement in our relationship. The very fact that the prime minister
and I and our colleagues from both sides are sitting down with the
CEOs who represent the leadership of the high-technology industry in
the United States shows that both nations are focused on the
opportunities instead of the past. We're oriented toward the future
instead of the legacy of conflict which we have put behind us.
The fact is, the Russian people, just like the American people, are
known for creativity and industriousness. And the opportunities for
high technology in Russia are quite remarkable. The opportunity to
form joint ventures and partnerships to improve the standard of living
for people in both of our nations is fantastic.
Now there are obstacles. Some of those obstacles still are left over
from the military requirements and restrictions that both sides
observe. But we are finding ways to absolutely protect our respective
national security and at the same time reap, for the benefit of our
people, the great new capabilities that high technology can give to
our people.
We have already chartered a meeting late this summer between the small
business agencies on both sides, to explore ways to harness the
Internet for the benefit of entrepreneurs starting new small
businesses. Some of the high-technology executives we will be meeting
with tomorrow want to be involved in that project. Now, we will
absolutely respect the national security requirements on the U.S.
side, without fail. I am certain the Russians will do the same thing.
But the hope for the future is now beginning to eclipse the fears of
the past.
PRIME MIN. CHERNOMYRDIN: I'd like to add, as regards protecting,
defending, we have learned how to do it.
As regards discovering new things, what needs to be done to make those
technologies, which we possess, work and which basically for dozens of
years were inaccessible -- today, what we need to do is make them work
for the sake of us; for the sake of the fact that we will prosper
sooner, rather than later.
We have stated many times -- and one more time I will state -- we in
Russia do not want to witness the fact that achievements of great
minds of the past go down the drain; we want these to work for our
human race so that we don't have to reinvent those wheels which
already are out there. We have no right to bury those great
discoveries, which are in our hands.
So what really matters now is to learn, and let's not be afraid. Let's
make it work so this syndrome of whether we could or should do that --
yes, there are do's and don'ts. We know that. But we are not afraid of
that. We know how to do it. We know that the U.S., they have highly
qualified experts; they know how to do it, as well. So what we are
talking about is what really is necessary to our people. We are
talking about their needs.
I haven't responded to the question there regarding Duma. When they
are asking questions, they say they don't know what we are doing here
in Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. In our Commission, all the ministries
and the agencies are represented with hundreds of people. We are not
hiding the fact; I have never done so.
Well, the fact is, people don't always have time, in the Duma, to take
a look into our business themselves; and probably on our side, we,
too, need to be more aggressive, to explain it to them about what
we're doing, what we have achieved over these five years.
VICE PRESIDENT GORE: Let me just add to that -- there are some people
who don't know what our Commission has done, and one of the reasons is
that it takes a long time to read the list of projects and contracts
and joint agreements and accomplishments. And both the prime minister
and I, I like to think, are known for being businesslike,
serious-minded, and focused on results. And I think that those things
we have in common have been responsible for quite a voluminous output
from this Commission.
But, it is difficult to sit down and read the 200 agreements and the
results of it, but we are literally turning swords into plowshares,
and we're shifting the focus from warheads to the World Wide Web.
Thank you very much -- spasibo bolshoe!
(End text)
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