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Bush, Putin Discuss Missile Defense
October 22, 2001
By GEORGE GEDDA
SHANGHAI, China (AP) - Brought closer together in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin ``made some progress'' toward a new strategic framework that would include limited missile defenses.
Putin repeated Russia's well-known opposition to Bush's plans to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile pact.
But, he said, ``We should think about the future, we should look into the future, and we should react adequately to possible threats in the future.''
The leaders met after the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders, and at a joint news conference Bush repeated his description of the 1972 ABM treaty as ``outmoded and outdated.''
``The events of September 11 make it clearer than ever that a Cold War ABM treaty that prevents us from defending our people is outdated and, I believe, dangerous,'' Bush said.
Regarding missile policy, Putin said, ``We are prepared to discuss that with our American partners.'' He said there was much work to do on missile policy before their meetings next month in Washington and Crawford, Texas, site of Bush's ranch.
Said Bush, ``We will continue working with each other and see if we can't find common ground on the ABM Treaty.''
Both Bush and Putin said they made progress during their talks. Putin cited specifically their effort to reduce strategic offensive weapons as well as ABM-related issues. ``I believe we do have understanding that we can reach agreement,'' the Russian leader said.
Bush saw progress in what he hopes will be ``a new relationship with Russia based on cooperation and mutual interests instead of confrontation and mutual vulnerability. We must truly and finally move beyond the Cold War.''
The new U.S.-Russia relationship became evident on Sept. 11 in dramatic fashion.
``Vladimir Putin was the first person to call,'' Bush said, and the new friendship was clear from his decision to stop planned Russian military exercises.
``In the old days, had an American president put their troops on alert, Russia would have responded,'' Bush said. ``And then America would have upped the ante, and then Russia would have upped the ante. We would have had two issues on our hands - one, a terrorist attack on America, plus a military standoff.
``Instead, his first reaction was to stand down, so as not to create any confusion, any doubt, so that the United States could stay focused on the terrorist attack,'' Bush said.
Putin said that in their closed-door meeting, he and Bush made progress on the issue of nuclear arms and defenses.
``At least we do have an understanding that we can reach some agreement taking into account the national interests'' of the two nations, Putin said. He said Russia looked forward to full-fledged negotiations on nuclear stockpiles and missile defense.
Bush did not give Putin a timetable for when the United States would pull out of the ABM treaty, said national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, though one official said Bush made clear it would have to take place sometime soon. It takes six months from such notification before the withdrawal would be effective.
Some administration officials said Sunday that Bush is prepared to give notice in January; others said Bush has not settled on a time.
Bush also did not give Putin any numbers on nuclear stockpile reductions, Rice said. A review of possible reductions is still under way, she said.
APEC leaders expressed strong support for the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, Bush said, even though their official statement did not mention Afghanistan, al-Qaida or Osama bin Laden.
``The people who came to this conference came because they wanted to show the world that they were not afraid of terrorists. They weren't going to let terrorists disrupt an important meeting,'' Bush said.
``And they also came to stand with solidarity with the United States. And I'm most appreciative of the support we received. It was strong, it was steady, and it's real,'' he said.
Putin said the ``political, economic and psychological consequences today are accurately felt in many countries, and all the continents.''
Separately, Bush and Putin issued a prepared statement saying they ``categorically reject and resolutely condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of motive.''
``The presidents stress that the barbaric act of terrorism committed in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001 represent a crime against humanity,'' it stated.
The statement did not endorse the U.S. bombardment of Afghanistan but the two leaders agreed that the current situation there is a ``direct consequence'' of policies pursued by the Taliban movement that governs the country.
The APEC leaders chose cautious language at the urging of two predominantly Muslim nations, Indonesia and Malaysia. It was a disappointment for Bush, who had wanted more direct support for his military campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaida. The final communique does not mention either.
``We condemn in the strongest terms the attack as an affront to peace, prosperity and the security of all people of all faiths, of every nation,'' Chinese President Jiang Zemin said at the close of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
In Bush's meeting with Putin, the U.S. goal was to lay a foundation for significant advances in November.
The Bush administration hopes that a U.S. offer of deep cuts in its nuclear arsenal will make Russia amenable to modifications in the ABM treaty that would allow missile tests not permitted under the accord.
The Bush administration says a missile defense is needed to protect the United States against adversary nations - Iran, Iraq, and North Korea - that are developing long-range missile capabilities.
Russian officials have talked privately about possibly easing differences on strategic issues, even though Moscow's public posture remains unchanged.
Putin and Jiang also are calling for a swift end to the American military attacks on Afghanistan.
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