Lavrov: Russia and the US still have differences
MOSCOW (AP) - March 18, 2008 After talks with Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
Lavrov told a news conference that the United States remains
determined to deploy missile defense system and that Russia
continues to oppose those plans. But both Lavrov and Rice voiced
confidence that Washington and Moscow can continue to work
constructively on this and a wide array of issues.
"When we have differences, we can talk about them in an
atmosphere of mutual respect," Rice said, agreeing with Lavrov
that the two sides do not agree about the positioning of the
missile defense system.
Gates, joining Lavrov and Rice at a news conference, said that
"we've leaned very far forward in this to provide assurance" that
the system is not a threat.
"I would say they listened very carefully," Gates said.
"President Putin took extensive notes last night and there was a
lot done during the day today. That said, the full range of what we
are now prepared to offer to discuss with the Russians is really
just now after the day's talks being put down on paper, so the
Russians will not see this until this evening. You have already
heard the foreign minister positively characterize the ideas. ...
Now they need to study them in greater detail. And I would expect
and hope that we would hear back reasonably quickly."
Lavrov said that the two sides had "discussed contentious
issues where we have not reached agreement." He also said the best
way to avoid the problem "is to not set up this preferred
positioning site at all."
But he did say the United States had made "important and
useful" proposals to allay the concerns of Russian officials.
Despite tensions over the missile defense system, Lavrov had
said earlier that Moscow would do what it could to keep relations
with the United States on an even keel as Russian President
Vladimir Putin steps down this spring.
A senior U.S. official traveling with the Cabinet secretaries
confirmed that the United States presented a document to the
Russians on Monday outlining what the United States thinks are the
main issues that define the relationship between the two nations.
The official was not specific but indicated that the issues include
those that have troubled the Russians the most, such as the U.S.
plan for a missile shield.
During a brief greeting witnessed by reporters Monday, Putin did
not mention U.S. plans for the missile shield system in Poland and
the Czech Republic - a proposition that has stoked Cold War
rhetoric about an imperial United States meddling at Russia's
doorstep.
Gates and Rice came into the talks exploring whether U.S.
concessions have softened Putin's opposition to the shield system.
Rice said the two sides did agree during their talks here to set
up a "joint strategic framework document" spelling out the
various elements of U.S.-Russian relations.
"I, for one, have found the discussions useful. I have found
them constructive," she said. Rice said she was glad the Russian
side had agreed to look at the missile shield proposal "more
closely."
"We have work to do," she acknowledged.
Although President Bush was expected to see Putin during a NATO
summit next month, the two-day visit closes a chapter in
negotiations with Putin as president.
Greeting Gates and Rice in his ornate office on Monday, Putin
recalled that they had held talks last October - a session
dominated by differences over missile defense and marked by sharp
rhetoric from the Russian president.
"Six months have passed and we believe that in some of these
issues we can probably dot the I's and reach final agreement,"
Putin said.
Even before the Americans arrived, Bush had sent Putin a letter
framing the discussions. Bush wanted to make sure Putin stuck to
the script, and U.S. participation in the unusual session hinged on
Putin's agreement.
"The president wanted to assess whether there was openness to
cooperation on some of these issues that have been difficult, like
missile defense," Rice told reporters afterward. "He wanted to
see ... whether President Putin is really interested in pursuing
progress on a number of fronts."