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Putin Told to Demand Rewards From U.S.
October 25, 2001
By ANGELA CHARLTON
MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin must demand swift rewards from the United States for backing its anti-terrorism campaign or risk humiliating Russia and turning the Russian people against him, leading Russian analysts said Thursday.
If Putin exacts political payment for his cooperation at a closely watched summit with President Bush next month, the analysts said, Russia could eventually emerge stronger than it's been in a decade, with greater global clout, a spot in the World Trade Organization and no NATO troops on its borders.
But if Putin compromises too much, they warned, America will speed up work on an anti-missile shield that Russia deplores and his domestic popularity will plunge for the first time since he entered office nearly two years ago. Russians strongly oppose terrorism and like Putin, but remain wary and resentful of the West.
``America is ready to pay a serious price to secure support.
After the terrorist attacks on the United States, Putin offered Russian airspace for humanitarian and cargo flights in the retaliatory campaign and accepted a U.S. military presence in former Soviet nations in Central Asia. Russia's stance is key for Washington's strikes on Afghanistan, which borders three ex-Soviet republics and harbors the key suspect in the American attacks.
``Would America do the same for us?'' asked Vyacheslav Nikonov, head of the Politika Foundation.
Discord was rife at the debate over what exactly Putin should ask for, echoing differences that have emerged among Putin's advisers and government ministers in recent weeks.
``We should have presented our conditions beforehand, not afterward,'' said Anatoly Utkin, an adviser to the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of Russia's parliament. ``In American political society there is no culture of gratitude. It's a more businesslike approach.''
Most suggested Russia should press for amendments to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty so that Washington doesn't pull out of the accord to build the missile shield Bush wants. The treaty bars such defense systems, and White House officials say Bush is prepared to go forward with his plans without Russia unless a deal can be struck by January.
Putin's defense adviser Igor Sergeyev reiterated Russia's strict allegiance to the treaty Thursday, but evaded questions on what amendments Russia could accept. ``The treaty should not be destroyed,'' he said.
The analysts also urged Putin to seek a write-off of Russia's Soviet-era foreign debt, admission to the WTO, a freeze on NATO expansion and an end to American criticism of Moscow's war in Chechnya - issues that have long plagued U.S.-Russian relations.
At their meetings in Washington and Texas on Nov. 13-15, Bush and Putin are expected to seek an agreement on the missile shield and on parallel efforts to cut nuclear stockpiles. They reported progress on the issues after a meeting in China last weekend, but much work remains.
Several Russian analysts criticized the American bombing campaign on Afghanistan, and a prominent pollster said Russian public support for the war was waning.
Ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky claimed that the U.S.-led campaign was indirectly aimed at destroying Russia because it allegedly would send ``millions of refugees and bandits'' to Russia's borders.
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