DATE=9/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-PUTIN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266211
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton met Russian President
Vladimir Putin Wednesday on the sidelines of the
United Nations Millennium Summit in New York. The two
powers appear no closer to resolving their dispute
over U-S missile-defense efforts. VOA's David Gollust
has details from New York.
TEXT: Moscow considers the U-S missile defense
project a violation of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile
treaty. And President Clinton's decision last week to
leave the issue of deployment to his successor has
apparently not altered the situation in a major way.
In his U-N summit policy address Wednesday, Mr. Putin
expressed alarm at what he said are plans for the
"militarization" of outer space, and proposed an
international conference on the issue next year in
Moscow. He called the A-B-M treaty -which the United
States wants to see amended to accommodate its missile
defense effort - the foundation of the entire arms-
control system.
The Putin comments not-with-standing, Mr. Clinton
sounded an optimistic note as he began his meeting
with the Russian leader, saying his deferral of
deployment "creates an opportunity" for Mr. Putin and
the next U-S president to reach a common position:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
I hope they can, because I think it's very
important for the future that we continue to
work together. When we work together, we can
destroy thousands of tons of nuclear material
and lots of nuclear weapons and work together in
the Balkans for peace. We can get a lot of
things done to work together.
/// END ACT ///
After the 90-minute meeting, U-S officials appeared to
raise the stakes in the debate by linking missile
defense with the deeper cuts in the two powers'
strategic arsenals sought by Moscow.
Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said the
United States is prepared to proceed "vigorously" with
a START-Three arms-cutting deal - but he said it would
have to be "in parallel" with "meaningful and
productive" talks on missile defenses.
The two leaders issued a joint statement on strategic
cooperation stressing arms areas on which they do
agree, including a commitment to finish an accord on
the pre-notification of test launches of ballistic
missiles and to tighten curbs on the export of missile
technology.
Mr. Talbott said President Clinton raised the case of
Edmund Pope, a U-S businessman held in Russia since
April on spy charges, and that Mr. Putin "understands
the importance" that Mr. Clinton attaches to the
matter. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/PLM
06-Sep-2000 20:19 PM EDT (07-Sep-2000 0019 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
