Missile Defense

PUTIN URGES BUSH NOT TO ACT ALONE ON MISSILE SHIELD by FRANK BRUNI http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/17/world/17PREX.html

Clear disagreements, clearly stated, with conversations that will involve staffs to be ongoing.

No decisions where decisions were not possible, nor concessions, so far as that goes. But clear linkage with the system of alliances involving the other nations, as well. Berle might have approved.

At the level of things possible, it went well for all concerned. Here is the whole article, with a comment.

i "BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia, June 16 — Russian President Vladimir V. Putin cautioned President Bush today about developing a missile defense shield without Moscow's consent, telling Mr. Bush that such an action could seriously strain relations between the two countries.

"But that warning was a surprisingly gentle one, tucked into a news conference here at which the two leaders' manners and words were striking for their warmth and relative ease.

"And it was coupled with upbeat statements from Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin, who were meeting for the first time, that suggested at least some possibility of cooperation on the kinds of security issues that have divided Washington and Moscow in the past. In fact, rarely have the two nations' leaders so surpassed the limited expectations of their meeting.

"Addressing the topic of missile defense at the news conference, which followed a meeting between the presidents that lasted about two hours, the Russian president made his opposition to Mr. Bush's plans for missile defense, which is also shared by some of the United States' European allies, abundantly clear.

""Any unilateral actions can only make more complicated various problems and issues," Mr. Putin said, referring to the recent signals from the Bush administration that it would press on with missile defense even if allies and the Russians continued to object.

"The Russian president also called the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty between Washington and Moscow, which would have to be amended or abandoned if Mr. Bush proceeded with his grand plan, "the cornerstone of the modern architecture of international security."

"And he said that when it came to "strategic stability," "the differences in approaches do exist and, naturally, in one short moment it's impossible to overcome all of them." (more)

rshowalter - 04:46pm Jun 16, 2001 EST (#5289 of 5291)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

"But," he continued, "I am convinced that ahead of us we have a constructive dialogue and the will to talk about these topics, to discuss, to hear, to listen."

"That statement sounded like conventional diplomatic etiquette but for the fact that Mr. Putin declined to dwell on disagreements about the ABM Treaty or the promise or danger of a missile shield, and he demonstrated a warmth toward Mr. Bush.

"Mr. Bush, for his part, was all smiles and frequent laughs as the pair talked to a throng of journalists on the grounds of a 16th-century castle nestled in the Alps near the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana.

"He and Mr. Putin stood just a few yards apart at lecterns set up so that from the viewpoint of television cameras a wooden bridge in the backdrop seemed to collapse the distance between them and connect them.

"I am convinced that he and I can build a relationship of mutual respect and candor," Mr. Bush said. "And I'm convinced that it's important for the world that we do so."

"I looked the man in the eye," Mr. Bush later added. "I was able to get a sense of his soul." From this, the president said, he was convinced that Mr. Putin was "a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country."

"Mr. Bush's aides said beforehand that Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin would not be trying to hammer out an accord of any kind and their discussion of the missile shield and the ABM Treaty would not be detailed.

"Afterward, administration officials said that was indeed the case, and the conversation between the leaders had ranged wide and far, giving them an opportunity to get to know each other.

"Indeed, today's events turned as much as anything else on the leaders' ability to establish rapport with each other. From outward signs, Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin seemed to get along rather well.

"They had been scheduled to meet for about 30 minutes with only notetakers and translators present, and then for a longer time with their senior advisers present as well. But the private part of the discussion ended up lasting more than 90 minutes, leaving only about 20 minutes for the wider circle to meet.

Comment: Note problems with TIME -- that's a reason mechanisms with more tolerance for word count, and complexity, are necessary - and especially so when the cultural gaps, and problems of history, are so great as this.

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