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14 May 2003

Moscow Treaty Demonstrates U.S.-Russian Cooperation

(Powell, Ivanov remarks before meeting in Moscow May 14) (760)
Ratification of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, also known
as the "Moscow Treaty," reduces overall levels of U.S. and Russian
nuclear weapons, but "more importantly I think, it shows how the
United States and the Russian Federation can work together on areas of
mutual interest," Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Moscow May
14 after hearing the news that the Russian State Duma had just voted
to ratify the treaty.
The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty March 6.
In brief remarks to reporters before his meeting with Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov, Powell said, "Even though disagreements will
come along from time to time such as we had with respect to Iraq, we
have demonstrated with this action that we can cooperate and that
which pulls us together is far more powerful than items that pull us
apart."
Ivanov said that the entering into force of the new arms reduction
treaty would become "one more very important step in the development
of partnership-based relations between Russia and the United States
for the sake of international stability and security of our states."
Following is the State Department transcript of the press
availability:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman 
(Moscow, Russia)
May 15, 2003 2003/
PRESS AVAILABILITY
SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR
IVANOV
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Moscow, Russia
May 14, 2003
(As Translated)
FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: Distinguished Mr. Secretary of State,
distinguished members of the U.S. delegation, first of all I would
like to give you my apology for the sort of delay in coming because of
the session in the State Duma was rather delayed, it was about
ratification of the strategic defensive reduction treaty. I would like
to inform you that the State Duma of Russia has ratified this treaty
by a vast majority of votes. We believe that entering the force of
this treaty will become one more very important step in the
development of partnership-based relations between Russia and the
United States for the sake of international stability and security of
our states. Some deputies asked me whether it was about giving a gift,
a present to Colin Powell on the occasion of his visit to Moscow. I
believe that the ratification is a present to the peoples of our two
countries, ratification by the Senate of the United States and State
Duma of Russia, because this document is intended to serve the
interests of security of our peoples. I would like to stress that in
spite of all the differences that may arise or arose in the past,
including around the Iraqi crisis, the important policy of the Russian
Federation is oriented towards constructing a long-term friendly
partnership with the United States. We are glad to welcome you to
Moscow and we believe that our negotiations will touch upon a full
range of international issues and problems and this will allow us to
broaden and widen our partnership for the sake of stability and
security. And in front of us is a very important event, the next
meeting between our two Presidents in St. Petersburg, and our
negotiations will also be a very important step in terms of
preparation for this event. Once again, welcome to Moscow.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. It's a great
pleasure to be back in Moscow especially on this day when we can
celebrate Duma ratification of the treaty that leads to fewer nuclear
weapons in the world. And I can assure you I am pleased that our
meeting started late. And, this present is better than getting a new
tie, I can assure you. As you said, Mr. Minister, this was a present
to our people. It was a present to the world. Not only does it reduce
our overall levels of nuclear weapons, more importantly I think, it
shows how the United States and the Russian Federation can work
together on areas of mutual interest.
It's appropriate the treaty was signed here in Moscow, right now here
today when it was ratified by the Duma, and hopefully, the instruments
[inaudible]. Even though disagreements will come along from time to
time such as we had with respect to Iraq, we have demonstrated with
this action that we can cooperate and that which pulls us together is
far more powerful than items that pull us apart.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)