#3
BBC Monitoring
US ambassador to Russia says need for missile defence
even greater now
Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1900 gmt 18 Sep 01
Us ambassador to Moscow Alexander Vershbow has told Russia TV's
"Details"
programme that the USA needs a National Anti-Missile Defence system even
more now after the attacks on New York and Washington. He said that the USA
had so far been encouraged by Pakistan's attempts to influence the Taleban
and he was hopeful of Russia's cooperation in the course of the
anti-terrorist campaign. The following is the text of the interview with
Russia TV on 18 September
[Presenter] This is "Details" on the air. Outside the American
embassy on
Novinskiy Avenue there are flowers, lots of flowers. This is tribute from
the Muscovites to the grief, to the memory of and of solidarity to the
Americans who perished in New York and Washington. The main thing is not to
be proud and full of admiration, because many journalists write about what
would happen outside the Russian embassy in Washington, if a similar
misfortune were to happen in Moscow. I think that those who ask these
questions are those who have not gone there and have not laid flowers there.
At the American embassy we are becoming acquainted with the new ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States to Russia, to
Moscow, Alexander Vershbow. Hello, Mr. Ambassador.
[Presenter] We are currently talking about cooperation, about cooperation
among states, which are setting themselves the goal of destroying world
terrorism. Are you carrying out any work here in Moscow to bring about a
rapprochement between Moscow and Washington?
[US ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, speaking English with Russian
translation overlaid] There are many different forms that this cooperation
can take, ranging from an exchange of information to cooperation and
coordination of our actions against the terrorists. One thing is quite
obvious. This is that it will not be some kind of short-term project. It is
more likely to be a long-term programme, campaign, which means that Russia
and other countries should join their efforts in the struggle with the
extremists and terrorists.
[Presenter] In Moscow at the present time they are trying to find out about
the forms of cooperation. [Federal Security Service head] Nikolay Patrushev
has already said that there are some kind of contacts between the special
services. Has Russia's role been discussed, let's say, the provision of
bases for the American armed forces in Central Asia? Is the trip round the
republics of Central Asia by Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir
Rushaylo connected with this? Are talks being conducted on this at the
present time?
[Vershbow] I think that it is premature to discuss what kind of cooperation
with Russia there will be. But, taking into account that we are pursuing a
common goal here, precisely the fight against terrorist, I would like to
hope that our Russian partners will not rule out any form of cooperation as
the campaign develops.
[Presenter] Will Russia's opinion be heard in this connection regarding the
threat of world terrorism. In Moscow today many politicians are saying that
these types of statements were regarded as propaganda put out by the
Kremlin in an attempt to overcome its problems in the North Caucasus. Has
the psychological atmosphere in this connection changed regarding Moscow
and its actions in the North Caucasus?
[Vershbow] Well, I think we have always take a serious attitude to the
concerns of our Russian friends regarding attacks by terrorists, especially
after this type of attack and the explosions in blocks of flats happened in
Moscow two years ago. And we have never allowed ourselves to underestimate
the element of international intervention as far as terrorist activity in
Chechnya is concerned. But at the same time, just as in the past, just as
before, we are concerned about the policy that Russia is pursuing with
regard to Chechnya.
[Presenter] Representatives of the [Afghan] Northern Alliance, some of whom
are in Moscow, the anti-Taleban coalition, are saying that they do not
believe in the sincerity of Pakistan, which has been an ally of the Taleban
for many years and an ally of [Saudi dissident Usamah] Bin-Ladin among
them. Does the US Administration trust the Pakistani government's intentions?
[Vershbow] Well, we are encouraged, let me say, by the statements that have
been issued by the Pakistani leadership, just as we are encouraged by
Pakistan's noticeable attempts to bring pressure to bear on the Taleban.
For the moment, it is not known whether this new form of support has been
effective. What I think is important in this situation is that we have
appealed to Pakistan and other countries, stressing that they need to chose
which side they are on after all these attacks that have taken place. They
cannot simply be hesitant and not take one stance or another. And I think
in this respect Pakistan will understand the essence of the matter.
[Presenter] On the following day after the tragedy the American embassy was
not open. Is it open now for issuing visas and exchange for people in
Russia wishing to visit the United States?
[Vershbow] On the first day after the tragedy we did not shut the embassy
completely. We simply reduced some of the services which required contact
with the public. We did this as a security precaution. But on the next day,
when we saw such an overwhelming demonstration of solidarity and support
and sympathy towards us, we continued the job of issuing visas and
rendering other forms of services.
[Presenter] Another stumbling block between Moscow and Washington, at least
until recently, the problem of the a National Anti-Missile Defence system
was discussed, the intention of the United States to withdraw from the
Anti-ballistic Missile Defence Treaty [ABM] of 1972. Now, at a time when
the American side has taken a strike that was not a missile strike, an
attack from inside the country, an attack with aircraft which has cause
large loss of life, is the American Administration likely to reassess its
position regarding National Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence?
[Vershbow] I think that the opposite conclusion is likely to be drawn. The
fact is that the terrorists in New York and Washington have shown that the
forces of evil do exist, which are prepared to make a strike, using any
imaginable weapon. This is precisely the reason why we should take into
account the possibility that some so-called rogue states, which are trying
to get weapons of mass destruction, could quite possibly use them, and
therefore it is necessary for us to have the means of combating such weapons.
[Presenter] I have to introduce you to Russian television viewers.
Therefore I shall recount what the Russian press is writing and has written
about you and you can correct me. You can say whether it is right or not.
Firstly, they write that you are 48 years old, that you were in Moscow from
1979 through 1981, that you headed the State Department or worked in the
State Department in the department for contacts with the Soviet countries,
countries in the socialist camp, that you were President [Bill] Clinton's
aide and that you were the representative of the USA in NATO for four
years. Some in the Russian press call you, please excuse me, a "hawk",
write that you speak Russian well.
[Vershbow, speaking Russian] Yes, I do speak Russian, and it is not bad to
be a "hawk" in our country. [lapses into English with Russian
translation
overlaid] Yes, I did spend many years working on political issues, to begin
with regarding the Soviet Union, at the present time regarding Russia and
the neighbouring countries to it. Most recently I have been intensively
studying European security issues.
I have to say that I came to Russia and saw a completely different country
to the one I knew 20 years ago. And I am keenly interested in the
opportunity to form completely new relations with the Russian Federation,
whether it is in the field of security, in the field of trade, in the field
of the economy. And, in spite of the fact that they call me a "hawk",
I
think that we should try - and I will try to do this - to develop mutual
relations of a partnership type with Russia in all fields without exception.
[Presenter] Thank you, Mr. President. We have visited the ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States to Russia, Mr
Alexander Vershbow. All the very best.
