24 March 1998
TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT, PRIMAKOV PRESS CONFERENCE MARCH 24
("Russia's foreign policy will remain unchanged" says ForMin) (1600)
Cologne -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Russian Foreign
Minister Yevgeniy Primakov held a press conference March 24 before a
dinner meeting at which they planned to discuss Kosovo, the upcoming
Contact Group meeting, the future of the U.S.-Russian Joint Commission
on Economic and Technological Cooperation (Gore-Chernomyrdin
Commission), and the U.S.-Russia relationship in the wake of the
governmental changes announced by Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
"President Yeltsin ... instructed me to underscore the fact that
Russia's foreign policy will remain unchanged, and will not be
affected by changes in the government," Primakov said.
"And among the priorities, we will continue to have as one of the main
areas, the further development of a multifaceted partnership
relationship with the United States."
He also said the United States and Russia "will, of course, continue
to move toward further cuts in strategic offensive arms, and it is for
that reason that Russia's leadership views as highly important,
ratification by the Duma of the START II Treaty." The
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission will continue its work, he said, and "the
outcome of the latest session of that commission ... will be fully
abided by and complied with by our side."
Albright said Kosovo would be the main subject of their discussion at
dinner. She added that the United States is pleased "that the general
direction of [U.S.-Russian] relations will remain on course."
And she echoed Primakov in noting that "the work of the
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission will continue. That is not based on
personalities."
Following is a transcript of the press conference:
(Begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Cologne, Germany)
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
AND FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENIY PRIMAKOV
Excelsior Hotel
Cologne, Germany
March 24, 1998
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: Ladies and gentlemen, members of the mass
media. We're having this meeting with the Secretary of State of the
United States, Mrs. Madeleine Albright, and this is not our first
meeting, but it might be a meeting that is of greater importance than
perhaps previous meetings. Because the Contact Group, tomorrow,
intends to discuss an extremely important problem. That is,
stabilization in Kosovo. And, also, because, I think, that we will
have tonight to discuss the fact that the line of the two countries
will stay unchanged. That is, to deepen and intensify the bilateral
relationship. President Yeltsin has himself underscored it, and he
instructed me to underscore the fact that Russia's foreign policy will
remain unchanged and will not be affected by changes in the
government.
And among the priorities, we will continue to have as one of the main
areas, the further development of a multifaceted partnership
relationship with the United States. We are aware of the importance of
a broad-based relationship between Russia and the United States in
view of the role and place that the United States occupies in the
world, in the interests of stability and security in different
regions. And, of course, Russia, too, will diversify further its
policy and will develop its relations with other countries as well.
And the same applies to the United States.
In the area of bilateral relationships we will, of course, continue to
move toward further cuts in strategic offensive arms, and it is for
that reason that Russia's leadership views as highly important,
ratification by the Duma of the START II Treaty. In 1993, a bilateral
high-level commission was set up to deal with economic and
technological issues. That commission will continue its work, and the
results and the outcome of the latest session of that commission, the
Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission, will be fully abided by and complied
with by our side.
We have gained a certain amount of experience in developing our
relationship, based on full equality and on the search of common
ground and common interests. But, of course, each of the two countries
will strive also to defend and uphold its own national interests. I'm
absolutely convinced that, on broad issues, the interests of our two
countries do not clash with another.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, I'm very pleased that Foreign Minister
Primakov was able to keep his dinner appointment with me. And we are
looking forward to having one of our very good discussions where we
cover the whole host of Russian-U.S. issues.
As the Foreign Minister said, we will be obviously discussing the
Kosovo issue at dinner. That will be the major subject of our
discussion. We are very pleased with the fact that President Yeltsin,
through Foreign Minister Primakov, has made very clear that the
general direction of our relations will remain on course.
As has been true in the past, obviously both countries operate on the
basis of promoting our own national interests; that has been and will
continue to be a prime activity, but clearly in many, many cases our
national interests do coincide.
Foreign Minister Primakov and I have had a number of these kinds of
public meetings, and we spend also a great deal of time talking to
each other on the telephone, and that relationship will obviously
continue. And as he said, the work of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission
will continue. That is not based on personalities.
But I must say, that our relationship is based on personalities.
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: Let's shake hands.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: So, I also was very glad to hear a reiteration of
what we had heard earlier, that the START II ratification through the
Duma is a process that is on track.
So we are looking forward to fruitful meetings this evening and
tomorrow and in the future. Thank you very much.
Q: Mr. Minister, if I may, on Kosovo. Is it your view that this a time
to consolidate the sanctions that were set forth some two weeks ago,
or should there be new sanctions added to enhance pressure? And when
you speak of the Gore-Chernomyrdin decisions, and that seemed almost a
celebratory event a couple of weeks ago in Washington, there was an
assertion by Mr. Chernomyrdin that restraints would be imposed on
Russian firms to curb technology transfers to Iran. Will that specific
policy be followed?
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: On the subject of Kosovo, I don't want to
discuss a priori this subject because we intend to have a discussion
of it tonight and tomorrow in the course of the session of the Contact
Group. And based on the results of those discussions, a press
conference will also be held.
On the subject of agreements reached about two weeks ago, twelve days
ago, I would share the view expressed by Secretary of State of the
United States, Mrs. Madeleine Albright, to the effect that those
agreements, they do not depend on personalities, because the
agreements and discussions were held between two countries, and they
will be followed through.
Q: Mr. Primakov. Of course, I understand your reluctance to anticipate
events, but has there been a change in the initial position of the
Contact Group because of the recent pronouncements by Serbia's
President on Kosovo, and has there been any change in the dynamics of
the situation prior to the London meeting and compared between the
situation as it was at the London meeting and prior to the meeting of
the Contact Group to be held tomorrow?
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: I will not speak for the Contact Group and
its members because tomorrow at its session, the Contact Group will
clearly express its view, and the positions of the members of the
Contact Group will also be expressed on events in Kosovo.
As to dynamics in Kosovo and in Yugoslavia, I believe that the
approach to positive developments is different, and the line is taken
differently by different members of the Contact Group. But not from
the point of view that there has been no dynamics whatsoever, rather,
whether or not that dynamic has been a substantive one.
Q: I'd like to address my question to Acting Foreign Minister
Primakov. You made a point this evening, sir, of stressing the
continuity of Russia's foreign policy on a variety of issues. I'd like
to know whether the fact that President Yeltsin publicly stated before
the whole world that you, and the other Cabinet members who were fired
the other day, lacked in new dynamics and fresh ideas and so on,
should give us an indication that on issues like Kosovo, we can expect
Russian foreign policy to change somewhat because of the decision by
Mr. Yeltsin to fire you and others for the reason of not having fresh
ideas?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Ralph, I don't think you've been following...
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: You ask a question like someone from the
Wall Street Journal. I'll disappoint you. I'm not being fired.
Q: You have been told you will remain on the job, sir?
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: These matters were dealt with by the
President today. He made a statement in which he pointed to his
satisfaction with the work of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of
Defense.
Q: Mr. Primakov, you mentioned one problem related to the bilateral
relationship that you intend to discuss with the Secretary of State.
What other problems involving the bilateral relationship do you plan
to discuss?
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV: Do you want us to start discussions right
here with all of you present? We would prefer to have this discussion
at a dinner table here in this restaurant.
Thank you.
(End transcript)
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