21 September 1999
Transcript: Albright, Ivanov Joint Press Availability Sept. 20
(U.S., Russia to cooperate against corruption, terrorism) (2,900) In a joint press availability September 20 in New York prior to their talks on the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov pledged to work together on issues ranging from terrorism and arms control to international financial crime and corruption. "Our relationship is too important," Ivanov said, "to allow for any pauses, not to mention any breakdowns." Regarding terrorism, Albright said she wanted to emphasize that "in the battle against terror, America and Russia stand side by side." "President Clinton has made clear the shock and anger of the American people at the recent terrorist attacks that have claimed so many Russian lives," she continued. "And the United States stands ready to broaden and intensify our counter-terrorism cooperation with Russia." Albright later explained that the United States and Russia will be exchanging "teams that can work together" to fight terrorism. Regarding arms control, Albright said the two nations face "a tremendous opportunity -- to deal with the threat posed by long-range missiles; to maintain the strategic benefits of the ABM Treaty; and to reduce further the size of our nuclear arsenals." Ivanov said Russia will "facilitate and expand" cooperation on fighting corruption. "We have an interest which is no less than the American interest that the money would be utilized to satisfy the needs of the Russian people rather than elsewhere," he said, terming the people of Russia the "victims" when money intended to help them winds up in Western banks. Albright said it was "very important" for the Russian Government "to make the investigation of charges of corruption and the whole issue of crime and corruption a priority issue," adding, "it is evident that they are really zeroing in on it from their perspective." On the issue of Iraq, Albright said the United States had been working to re-establish the consensus that existed on the Security Council. Ivanov added that Russia was pursuing a common objective with regard to Iraq. "Our interest is to secure the full and complete implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions," he said, "particularly in terms of elimination of the weapons of mass destruction and prevention of their reappearance there." Regarding Iran, Albright said, "We have been concerned about transfer of any kind of technology from Russia to Iran and have made this point repeatedly at all levels and will continue to do so." In response to a question on whether the situation in Chechnya had led President Yeltsin to consider declaring a state of emergency and postponing elections, Ivanov denied any "intention or plan" to declare "any sort of emergency in the Russian Federation." Parliamentary and presidential elections will take place as planned, he said. Following is the State Department transcript of the joint press availability: (begin transcript) DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman (New York, New York) September 20, 1999 JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Good evening. I am very glad to have the chance to welcome my good friend Igor Ivanov back to New York, a year -- and many, many meetings -- after his first visit here as Russian Foreign Minister. This is actually the anniversary. Over the past twelve months, he and I have shown that we can cooperate to promote the vital interests of both our nations -- even when we have important disagreements in other areas. Tonight we are going to be discussing some of the major issues on the UN agenda, including Kosovo and some issues in Afghanistan and South Asia. We will also consider our following on, on some discussions that we've been having on arms control and that our two nations face a challenge that is also a tremendous opportunity -- to deal with the threat posed by long-range missiles; to maintain the strategic benefits of the ABM Treaty; and to reduce further the size of our nuclear arsenals. There remains a great deal to do as we seek to work together, in Moscow and Washington, to contain new threats without reviving old ones. Tonight we will also review our efforts to combat international financial crime and corruption. As I have said before, the United States takes this issue very seriously. We will be building on the visit of Russian law enforcement officials to Washington last week. We will continue to support those in Russia who are working to fight financial crime and put strong anti-corruption laws into place. Finally, I want to stress that, in the battle against terror, America and Russia stand side by side. President Clinton has made clear the shock and anger of the American people at the recent terrorist attacks that have claimed so many Russian lives. And the United States stands ready to broaden and intensify our counter-terrorism cooperation with Russia. In doing so, we will be helping make Russia safer -- and we will be improving the security of Americans as well. That goal is the foundation of all the cooperation between our nations. And it remains the basis of the frank and productive relationship that the Foreign Minister and I have built. Before I ask the Foreign Minister to speak, let me just say that with regard to the earthquake in Taiwan, we obviously are very concerned about what happened and offer our deepest sympathy. It is tragic that this has happened there. We have determined, as far as we know, that no Americans have been part of the many that have been injured, and the American Institute on Taiwan is working with the authorities in order to be able to be as helpful as possible and we'll offer whatever assistance we can. Mr. Foreign Minister. FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: Thank you. As Secretary Albright has rightly pointed out, our meetings has acquired a regular nature where we discuss a wide range of issues, both of bilateral and multilateral nature. These meetings reflect the desire of the leadership of both countries to develop a stable relationship not subject to the political conjecture. And the recent conceptual statement by Secretary Albright concerning the Russo-American relations is a testimony to this. It is precisely from this position that Russian leadership views our relationship. Our relationship is too important -- and not only for our two countries -- in order to allow for any pauses, not to mention any breakdowns. The positive assets in our relationship accumulated in the last few years enables us to overcome the outstanding problems and ensure in general a positive dynamism of our bilateral relations. After the meetings between the two Presidents of Russia and the United States in Cologne, a considerable amount of work has been accomplished with the view to jointly address such comprehensive issues as Kosovo settlement and general stabilization in the Balkans, the development of new agreements with the view to further reducing strategic offensive weapons in the conditions of the preservation of a key agreement -- that is, of the ABM Treaty of 1972. Together with our American partners we discuss such issues as Middle East settlement, Afghan crisis, and strengthening of the non-proliferation regime in connection with the weapons of mass destruction. And quite naturally, all these issues will be addressed during today's meeting. I use this opportunity to express on behalf of the leadership of the Russian Federation to President Bill Clinton our gratitude in connection with condolences with regard to the recent explosions in Russia and his understanding of the dramatic fight in which Russia is involved in Daghestan in struggling with international extremism. I would like to note that the scope of the international terrorism is so considerable that the struggle against it would call for collective efforts of the international community. We consider it a good development that our law enforcement agencies are embarked on a joint work in connection with the Bank of New York case. Russia is interested in an unbiased investigation of possible instances of illegal financial operations by the Russians -- both legal and natural persons [sic]. Moreover, we are interested not only in the investigations into the Bank of New York affair, but also investigations concerning participation of any other possible banks and any other financial violations, because the people of Russia are the victims of such possible financial schemes because monies flee from Russia and settle in the Western banks. That's why we are not only for the continued investigation, but also ask for assistance in comprehensively investigating such possible instances. Finally, I cannot but express the words of condolences in connection with the recent hurricane in the southeastern part of the United States resulting in the loss of human life. We also share the sorrow of the American people in connection with a bloody incident in one of the churches in Texas. Q: Mr. Minister, Secretary Albright was quite tough on Russia last week in her speech when she accused the Russian Government of not taking adequate steps to deal with corruption. What is your reaction to her comments? And specifically, do you intend to do, or does your government intend to move on the money laundering bill? Mrs. Albright, the Gilman bill on Iran, I would be interested in your comments on how that complicates your ability to deal with Russia on that issue. FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: First of all, I would like to stress that the presentation by Secretary Albright was primarily devoted to relations between Russia and the United States. We share the views expressed regarding not only the present state of our relations, but also regarding the future development of such relations. As for the concern expressed regarding possible instances of corruption in Russia, we also do share such concern. We have an interest which is no less than the American interest that the money would be utilized to satisfy the needs of the Russian people rather than elsewhere. That is why we have an interest in the success of such investigations, and our interest is in ensuring the transparency of our economy. And we will facilitate and expand such cooperation by all efforts. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: On the question you asked me, obviously we have been concerned about transfer of any kind of technology from Russia to Iran and have made this point repeatedly at all levels and will continue to do so. Q: Madam Secretary, originally you said that the decision to establish a limited national ABM system could be made next summer. Do you think Russia may undertake (inaudible), and do you believe that such a development meets the interests of the United States? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me say that we have made very clear that we believe that the arms control agenda is one that we should pursue together. Our biggest successes have been when we have been both pursuing them together. And among the various discussions that we have had -- the Foreign Minister and I -- have been about how to cooperate as much as possible. We believe that, as you have quoted, basically there will be no decision on deployment until next summer. But in the meantime, I think we understand the centrality of the ABM Treaty, the importance that that has played in arms control regime and talks thus far. And part of what we're talking about is how to make sure that we can work together to deal with what we consider our new kinds of threats. And it is in both our interests to try to work together on this. Q: Foreign Minister Ivanov, as it stands right now, are you satisfied with the British-Dutch resolution, draft resolution on disarming Iraq? If not, what problems do you have with the draft? And as it stands right now, would Russia veto it when it comes before the Security Council later this week? And, Secretary Albright, are you satisfied with the transparency of this investigation that is underway right now in Moscow, and are you satisfied that the Russian Government itself has not been involved in corruption and money laundering? Thank you. FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: We in the Security Council are actively involved now with the development of the Security Council resolution on Iraq. The fact that we work together is of a principal importance because we pursue common objectives. Our interest is to secure the full and complete implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly in terms of elimination of the weapons of mass destruction and prevention of their reappearance there. All members of the Security Council have an interest in finding a collective solution, and it is in no one's interest to have these questions as a cause for a new confrontation. This is one of the issues that we will be discussing tonight. SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Just one sentence on this. I think that what the Foreign Minister has said is very important because it has been our goal to try to reestablish the consensus that existed on the Security Council with regard to issues to do with Iraq. And we will be, obviously, talking about that. From our perspective it is very important to see full compliance by Iraq. On the question you asked me, let me say that as I stated in my speech at Carnegie [Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C.], it is very important for the Russian Government to make the investigation of charges of corruption and the whole issue of crime and corruption a priority issue. And it is evident that they are really zeroing in on it from their perspective. But from my perspective, I have to say this: As I said before, this is under investigation now and I am not prepared to render judgements on the process, the procedure, et cetera, until we have results. I think it would be inappropriate for me to make further comment on that. Q: You have just mentioned the possibility of cooperation between Russia and the United States in the fight against a common enemy, terrorism. Will you please give us more details; how do you see such cooperation the future in Caucasus region? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that for us -- and it's very evident we have been talking about this for a long time -- that terrorism affects all of us. All decent people that operate by the rules are in some way affected by those who have no stake in the system and are deliberately trying to disrupt it. So I think that it's very important for us to cooperate in every way that we can. We have condemned the acts of insurgent groups in the north Caucasus against lawful authority and which are causing needless deaths and destruction. We have also consistently urged all the parties to refrain from indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force. So I think it's very important that we make clear what our goals are. And there are numerous ways that it's possible to cooperate in anti-terrorism activities. And I think we are going to be exchanging teams that can work together on what is very specific kind of work that countries are involved in, in fighting terrorism. President Clinton has been saying this over and over again for some time that we, all of us who care about laws and who care about open societies are under threat from the indiscriminate use of violent acts against innocent people by terrorists. So we stand side by side with Russia in terms of trying to deal with this terrible problem. Q: Mr. Foreign Minister, could you clear up some confusion on what's going on in the Chechnya region? There's been some reports that there are Russian ground forces involved now and also some reports that President Yeltsin might consider declaring an emergency and not holding parliamentary elections. Could you comment on that? FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: Statements have been made regarding this, but I would like to reiterate there is no intention or plan to declare any sort of an emergency in the Russian Federation. Both elections to the parliament and the presidential elections will take place as planned. That is, the parliamentary elections will take place on December 19th and presidential elections are planned to take place in July of the year 2000. Q: How could the Congressional hearings that are supposed to come up on the Bank of New York case, how do you think it might affect the effort of the IMF [International Monetary Fund] to provide their next tranche of loans to Russia? SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, let me say that even aside from whatever happens in Congress, as I stated in my speech, is that basically the IMF has always required transparency and accountability -- this has always been their rule; I think it's nothing new -- and no further distribution of financial loans to Russia unless they are satisfied that that is happening. But that is not something new. That has been the standard operating procedure of the IMF. FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: I would like to add a few words. Quite recently the IMF expert group examined the situation, and they concluded that the monies from the recent IMF tranche were used appropriately. Thank you. (end transcript)
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