DATE=9/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - RUSSIA (L-ONITER)
NUMBER=2-266166
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton meets with Russian President
Vladimir Putin Wednesday on the sidelines of the
United Nations Millenium Summit in New York.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports the two leaders are
expected to discuss a broad agenda.
Text: The meeting with Mr. Putin comes just days
after Mr. Clinton announced he is leaving a decision
on whether the United States will deploy a missile
defense system to his successor.
The issue has been an irritant to U-S - Russian
relations. Although Washington argues such a system
would protect against missiles fired by countries like
Iraq or North Korea, Moscow believes it would violate
the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and undermine
nuclear deterrence.
Mr. Clinton Friday cited diplomatic complications as
well as recent test failures as reasons for deferring
the deployment decision. But he said development of
the program would continue.
The President is expected to use his meeting with his
Russian counterpart Wednesday to narrow the
differences over the proposed U-S missile shield.
U-S National Security Advisor Sandy Berger says the
two leaders - who will be meeting for the third time
in three months - are also expected to discuss arms
control, non-proliferation, and regional issues,
including North Korea, the Middle East peace process,
and the Balkans.
In addition, Mr. Berger says, Mr. Clinton will use the
occasion to personally renew his appeal to Russia to
respect the freedom of the press.
The United States had expressed concern over the brief
imprisonment of Russian media tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky
on embezzlement charges in June. At the time, Mr.
Putin sought to distance himself from the case -
saying the prosecutor's office was an independent
agency beyond his control.
Prosecutors dropped the case late last month - citing
lack of evidence. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/ENE/FC
05-Sep-2000 16:51 PM EDT (05-Sep-2000 2051 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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