Putin, Rice Confident Of Missile Agreement

However, Incoming Russian President Warns Of Intense Talks Over European Defense System

(AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he had received a letter from President Bush that lays out U.S. missile defense provisions and the two sides can probably reach agreement. Still, Russia's incoming president predicted intense negotiations to come.

"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, referring to the last round of U.S.-Russia negotiation on the Bush administration's plans to build a missile defense system in Europe.

Putin called Mr. Bush's letter a "very serious document." Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said it outlined what Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wished to talk about during Tuesday's scheduled talks with their counterparts in Moscow.

"If we can reach agreement on its most important provisions than we will be able to state that our dialogue is proceeding successfully. There are still a lot of outstanding problems that need to be discussed," Putin said, sitting across at table from Rice and Gates ahead of their meeting.

The tone of the meeting was warm, in contrast to past Putin sessions where he has been known to make a speech, setting out a Russian hard-line.

Putin's hand-picked successor, President-elect Dmitry Medvedev, also set a positive mood when he met earlier with Gates and Rice, greeting them and smiling often - a much less imposing figure than Putin, who has moved to consolidate his power and control of Russia in recent years.

Medvedev said Russia still has questions about U.S. missile defense plans but, like Putin, he said he thinks they can be resolved.

"We are determined to go ahead," Medvedev said. "We need to provide for continuity in the Russian-U.S. relationship."

Rice agreed with both Putin and, separately, Medvedev, saying the U.S. and Russia have "a firm foundation for cooperation" on missile defense, which the United States sees as a way to defend against missiles from nations such as Iran and North Korea.

Gates, who had taken a hard line going into the talks, told Medvedev and then Putin that he hoped the two sides can bridge differences.

The Pentagon chief said the U.S. and Russia agree on some issues, and "those where we have disagreements we can see if we can make progress."

Gates, still wearing a sling after fracturing his arm in a fall, joked about his injury as a negotiating tactic.

"With a broken arm, I won't be nearly as difficult a negotiator," Gates told Medvedev

Responded Medvedev in Russian: "We'll see."

En route to Moscow from Washington, Gates said that it is up to the Russians to show they are not pursuing a "sham game" to thwart U.S. efforts to establish missile defense sites in Europe.

He and Rice saw some prospect of progress on long-stalled negotiations over U.S. proposals to establish missile defense sites in central Europe, Gates added with a note of caution.

"I wouldn't get too enthusiastic at this point," he said.

Gates earlier set a tough tone, questioning the sincerity of the Russian government's objections to missile defense.

"My view is we've put a lot on the table" in recent negotiations, Gates said. "Now it's time for them to reciprocate."

Gates and Rice were seeing Putin and Medvedev before daylong talks Tuesday with the Russian defense and foreign ministers.

Gates said he and Rice were bringing no new missile defense proposals to the talks, which will range from cooperation against terrorism, future arms control and economic relations. U.S. officials have said they have "tweaked" previous proposals for cooperation that got a mixed reaction from Moscow.

Rice suggested the Russians are watching the U.S. election season with an eye toward cutting a deal, or at least making headway while there is a known commodity in the White House.

In general, Rice, said, "people want to get as much done as they can, because they sense American politics are going to be unpredictable."

Added Gates: "At some point the Russians are going to have to decide whether they want to be true partners - which we're offering - or whether this is all just a sham game on their part to (stop) the whole deal."

Rice would not predict a breakthrough but said Russia may be more convinced of the shield's utility, and that the two sides see opportunities for technical collaboration.

"I would hope that we can move from the conceptual level to some more specific proposals," Rice told reporters flying with her to the joint meetings.

Without offering specifics, Rice indicated that the two sides are nearer to an arrangement to assess and plan side-by-side for theoretical missile threats from such rogue states as Iran or North Korea, and for ways to assure Russia that the shield is being developed and deployed as advertised. That could include both human and electronic monitoring of sites planned for Poland and the Czech Republic, Rice said.

The Bush administration is negotiating with Poland to establish a base there for 10 missile interceptors. They would be linked to a radar site in the Czech Republic, if the Czech government agrees. The system would be part of a wider network of interceptors, radars and communications sites in the United States and elsewhere for defending the United States and its allies against long-range missiles.

In their meetings in Moscow last October, Gates and Rice said the Bush administration would considering delaying activation of the proposed sites in Poland and the Czech Republic until hard evidence is in hand regarding Iran's development of a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe and beyond. The Russians have not accepted that proposal.

Gates said Monday the offer is still on the table.

Besides missile defense, Washington and Moscow are holding out hope for progress on other security issues, including a new agreement on verification of strategic nuclear arms reductions that were agreed in the Moscow Treaty of 2002. Verification rules for arms reductions under that treaty are governed by the 1991 START accord, which is due to expire next year and thus need replacement.

The Russians have sought a formal verification regime to replace the START deal, whereas the Americans have wanted a simpler arrangement.

[jessicayoyo2]

He did his time. He didn''t make a big issue out of it. My friends on (Blackcentury.com) love him very much. It is a niche interracial dating service

[demslie]

I''''m not very informed on this topic so pls excuse my question.....Are you telling me that the U.S. is footing the bill for this so-called European Defense system and the EU and NATO allies are virtually paying nothing??? Please, say it ain''''t so!!

Posted by iCi2i

Gees, these liberal Democrat elitists are supposed to be so smart and yet their hate will allow them to believe anything another hate filled Democrat says. The Missile Defense System is still in experimental stages and has won''t be fielded anywhere in the world for at least five to ten years. Yet some Democrat Conspiracy Theory idiot comes up with a stupid statement and Democrats buy it without question because their hate and politics say so. And these Democrats are the people who want to run the country.

[demslie]

I think Russia is too smart to negotiate anything with his Neocon regime!

But this spin was a good try! (snort)

Posted by RowdyTexan2

I have noticed that Democrats like RowdyTexan2 have praised any country like Russia, IRAN, CUBA, CHINA, North Korea. Democrat Free Speech sounds more like endless hate speech for America. Go on any Anti-American Muslim web-site and the hate speech is identical.

[rowdytexan2]

I think Russia is too smart to negotiate anything with his Neocon regime!

But this spin was a good try! (snort)

[Latrocinor]

Sounds good. Press on.

[stn_sage]

Several posters raise some very goods points and this administration would have to answer before anything can proceed. I, for one, believe this issue is beyond the capacity of this administration to handle and should be left to the next to deal with. Haste makes waste!

[skyk-2009]

It''''s good to see that an agreement can be reached.


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Posted by denn034 at 05:38 PM : Mar 17, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL You think?? LOL Now THAT would be a first wouldn''t it? The Bush Administration acctually acomplishing something... don''t hold your breath though. LOL

[kennedy7955]

The US is beyond broke and yet we keep spending money on defense of other nations, rich nations, when it is they who should be footing the bill. The time has come for the US to leave Europe and Asia and bring our troops home. It has been 60 years and the time has come!

Missle defense for what? To protect rich Europe? Let them build their own *** system - better yet buy ours. But we should stop paying the bills for others security. It is time for America to get real!

[denn034]

It''s good to see that an agreement can be reached.

[ici2i]

I''m not very informed on this topic so pls excuse my question.....Are you telling me that the U.S. is footing the bill for this so-called European Defense system and the EU and NATO allies are virtually paying nothing??? Please, say it ain''t so!!

[timdgrim]

This is so idiotic! First Russia does not trust Bush at all and probably laughs at his very existance as president of anything let alone the United States. Second, we are so concerned with China and the way they conduct their ways militarily and on human rights, yet we borrow money from them like it''s nobodys business. What a double standard we have when it comes to money and Wall Street. Security is only as deep as corporate profits!!!

[democrat2u]

"Rice would not predict a breakthrough but said Russia may be more convinced of the shield''''s utility, and that the two sides see opportunities for technical collaboration"




SURE!! we are paying 98% of the cost. Putin has a few tricks under his sleeves, He knows we are not in an a good finacial situation.

[samael2014]

How about this, what kind of IDIOT would trust anything the Bush Administration says or does; particularly the Russian government -- very much in particular the Putin administration -- U.S. Citizens, U.S.taxpayers (particularly future generations) and the rest of the free world?

And I''m real tired of people, particularly the American Press, showing the extremes of disgusting unpatriotic disrespect of the U.S. (United States and its people) interchangeably with the Bush Administration (or Bush Administration of the U.S. government).

Sorry no spin or new information here. The Bush Administration has been and is deeply untrusted internationally for a number of well documented reasons, particularly with Russia in regard to the proposed missile defense program in Poland; and the term the "U.S." (as in the U.S. country) is often very much inappropriately used in place of the Bush Administration, particularly by the U.S. media (which is really ironic considering the role of the "free press" as guaranteed by the Constitution to the people of the U.S. by it''s government).

c''''mon you Bush haters, what negative spin can you put on this topic? missiles for vodka?


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Posted by namesnames at 12:44 PM : Mar 17, 2008

[walt1944-2009]

According to "The Candy Woman", she and Russian president Putin may come to an agreement on the weapons defense system the Great Emperor wants to install in Eastern Europe.

According to the deal, the weapons will be pointed at the planet Venus on Mondays and Wednesdays, and at Iran on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Fridays and Saturdays, the missiles will be pointed at Venezeula. At no time will the missiles be pointed at Moscow, China, or (since we are using ping-pong diplomacy there) at North Korea! This will be true only on days when the weather is clear and sunny and the temperature a balmy 72 degrees. Any other time, the system will be off-line!!!

No wonder the Poles are worried!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[ramos937]

A MDS to protect Europe and EU does not pay a penny for it? We do not even ask EU if they would contribute? Must be the water in the WH.

Congress has to save us from this by saying no to any funds for it.

[tbweb]

"Rice would not predict a breakthrough but said Russia may be more convinced of the shield''s utility, and that the two sides see opportunities for technical collaboration"

If the U.S. and Russia can collaborate 200 miles above the Earth together inside the International Space Station in a technical context, collaborating technically here on Earth should be a piece of cake!

[namesnames]

c''mon you Bush haters, what negative spin can you put on this topic? missiles for vodka?