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#2
BBC Monitoring
USA's Powell tells Russian TV that detente policy is long-term
Source: Russian Public TV (ORT), Moscow, in Russian 0900 gmt 10 Dec 01

[Presenter] How does the USA see the future of its cooperation with Russia? The head of the American foreign-policy establishment [i.e., Secretary of State] spoke about this yesterday in an exclusive interview to our television station.

[Question] Mr Secretary, relations between the United States and Russia are now moving to a qualitatively new level. The policy of the current American administration is to draw closer to Russia. Is this long-term or does it depend on the immediate political climate?

[Powell, in English with Russian overlaid] It's a long-term policy. After the tragedy of 11 September, our relations have been developing more quickly. All this is happening because the United States and Russia, Presidents Bush and Putin, joined the coalition against terrorism. I was in Brussels two days ago, and at NATO there we found a way to establish a closer relationship between Russia and NATO for the coming months and years. This means a permanent, long-term policy and not just something temporary. We want to see closer cooperation between Russia and the West, and for that to happen on the basis of mutual interest. We welcome this new era.

[Question] Mr Powell, does the USA leadership still insist on a rapid and unilateral withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty? And in your opinion, is any compromise possible between our two countries to preserve that treaty?

[Powell] We have discussed with the Russian side, for several months now, the new threats emanating from countries that are developing technologies and weapons of mass destruction. In particular, missiles with such weapons. For that reason, we need an anti-missile defence. But that is directed not against Russia but against these new threats. As for the ABM Treaty, it does not allow the development of appropriate antimissile systems. This is why we need to move beyond the treaty and leave it behind. Russia does not agree with this. We have been unable to resolve these differences. But we will continue to discuss this issue...

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