27 July 1999
U.S.-Russian Relations Growing Stronger, Gore Says July 27
(Gore, Russian PM Stepashin hold joint news conference) (560) By Wendy S. Ross USIA White House Correspondent Washington -- Relations between Russia and the United States are now moving forward following differences of opinion over how to resolve the conflict in Kosovo, Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin told reporters at a news conference late July 27. "Let's be candid with one another," Gore said. "We have done well to preserve and move forward in the relationship between our countries during a very difficult time. I think it is the mark of the growing strength in our relationship that it has stood some difficult tests. "Our soldiers are working side by side right now in Kosovo as they have been for quite some time in Bosnia. We are working hand in hand on a variety of matters." Stepashin, speaking in Russian with simultaneous translation, said his meetings in Washington "came after some cooling that resulted from Yugoslavia," making the meetings "very important." He was in town for an executive session of the U.S.-Russian Joint Commission on Technological Cooperation with Gore. Since the Commission was created in 1993 it has been co-chaired by the American Vice President and the Russian Prime Minister. Gore said the Commission meeting went "extremely well" and put U.S.-Russian relations back on track with detailed discussions of economic and security issues and commercial space operation. In addition, the vice president said he and the new Russian Prime Minister held two one-on-one meetings, one at the Gore residence and one at Blair House, and they planned to hold a third, previously unscheduled meeting, following the news conference. That third meeting, Gore said, is a sign "that we covered so much ground during our earlier sessions, we found an ability to work together very well, and we had a lot to talk about" further. During the day, Gore and Stepashin also met for half an hour with President Clinton in the Oval Office. Gore characterized Stepashin as someone who wants to get things done. "Before this meeting," he said, "we came to know each other during a series of lengthy telephone conversations, sometimes when both of our countries were under some form of stress or another. And I have found him someone enjoyable to work with because he is a no-nonsense, business-like person, and we've already been able to solve a number of problems together. That spirit certainly characterized the discussions and meetings today." Stephasin said he values his friendship with Gore and the work of the Commission. "We are entering the 21st century. We have to enter it as friends," he said. "We have to understand each other. We have to respect each other." In the same vein, Gore said that "in this new era, strong U.S.-Russia ties will be an essential component of American national security and global stability." In a joint statement, Gore and Stepashin announced that Russia and the United States would begin discussions next month in Moscow on START III and the ABM Treaty. The announcement follows an agreement reached by President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin at the recent G-8 Summit in Cologne. But Gore made clear that the United States wants the Russian Parliament (Duma) to ratify START II, before START III can be concluded.
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