    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 13, 2001]
    [Pages 1391-1399]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Vladimir Putin of Russia
    November 13, 2001

        President Bush. It's a great honor for me to welcome President
    Vladimir Putin to the White House and to welcome his wife as well. This
    is a new day in the long history of Russian-American relations, a day of
    progress and a day of hope.
        The United States and Russia are in the midst of a transformation of
    a relationship that will yield peace and progress. We're transforming
    our relationship from one of hostility and suspicion to one based on
    cooperation and trust that will enhance opportunities for peace and
    progress for our citizens and for people all around the world.
        The challenge of terrorism makes our close cooperation on all issues
    even more urgent. Russia and America share the same threat and the same
    resolve. We will fight and defeat terrorist networks wherever they
    exist. Our highest priority is to keep terrorists from acquiring weapons
    of mass destruction.
        Today we agreed that Russian and American experts will work together
    to share information and expertise to counter the threat from
    bioterrorism. We agreed that it is urgent that we improve the physical
    protection and accounting of nuclear materials and prevent illicit
    nuclear trafficking. And we will strengthen our efforts to cut off every
    possible source of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, materials,
    and expertise. Today we also agreed to work more closely to combat
    organized crime and drug trafficking, a leading source of terrorist
    financing.
        Both nations are committed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan,
    once hostilities there have ceased and the Taliban are no

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    longer in control. We support the U.N.'s efforts to fashion a post-
    Taliban government that is broadly based and multiethnic. The new
    government must export neither terror nor drugs, and it must respect
    fundamental human rights.
        As Russia and the United States work more closely to meet new 21st
    century threats, we're also working hard to put the threats of the 20th
    century behind us once and for all, and we can report great progress.
        The current levels of our nuclear forces do not reflect today's
    strategic realities. I have informed President Putin that the United
    States will reduce our operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads
    to a level between 1,700 and 2,200 over the next decade, a level fully
    consistent with American security.
        Russia and the United States have also had vast discussions about
    our defensive capabilities, the ability to defend ourselves as we head
    into the 21st century. We have different points of view about the ABM
    Treaty, and we will continue dialog and discussions about the ABM
    Treaty, so that we may be able to develop a new strategic framework that
    enables both of us to meet the true threats of the 21st century as
    partners and friends, not as adversaries.
        The spirit of partnership that now runs through our relationship is
    allowing the United States and Russia to form common approaches to
    important regional issues. In the Middle East, we agree that all parties
    must take practical actions to ease tensions so that peace talks can
    resume. We urge the parties to move without delay to implement the Tenet
    work plan and the Mitchell report recommendations.
        In Europe, we share a vision of a European Atlantic community whole,
    free, and at peace, one that includes all of Europe's democracies, and
    where the independence and sovereignty of all nations are respected.
    Russia should be a part of this Europe.
        We will work together with NATO and NATO members to build new
    avenues of cooperation and consultation between Russia and NATO. NATO
    members and Russia are increasingly allied against terrorism, regional
    instability, and other threats of our age. And NATO must reflect this
    alliance.
        We're encouraged by President Putin's commitment to a political
    dialog in Chechnya. Russia has also made important strides on
    immigration and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities,
    including Russia's Jewish community. On this issue, Russia is in a
    fundamentally different place than it was during the Soviet era.
    President Putin told me that these gains for freedom will be protected
    and expanded. Our Foreign Ministers have sealed this understanding in an
    exchange of letters. Because of this progress, my administration will
    work with Congress to end the application of Jackson-Vanik amendment to
    Russia.
        Russia has set out to strengthen free market institutions and the
    rule of law. On this basis, our economic relationship is developing
    quickly, and we will look for further ways to expand it.
        A strong, independent media is a vital part of a new Russia. We've
    agreed to launch a dialog on media entrepreneurship, so that American
    and Russian media representatives can meet and make practical
    recommendations to both our Governments, in order to advance our goal of
    free media and free exchange of ideas.
        Russia and the United States will continue to face complex and
    difficult issues. Yet, we've made great progress in a very short period
    of time. Today, because we are working together, both our countries and
    the world are more secure and safe. I want to thank President Putin for
    the spirit of our meetings. Together, we're making history, as we make
    progress.
        Laura and I are looking forward to welcoming the Putins to our ranch
    in Crawford, Texas. I can't wait to show you my State and where I live.
    In the meantime, I hope you have a fine stay here in Washington, DC. And
    it's my honor to

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    welcome you to the White House, sir, and welcome you to the podium.
        President Putin. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know whether I would
    have an opportunity to address such a representative audience of the
    press and media. I would like to begin, anyway, with words of thanks to
    the President of the United States, not only for his kind invitation to
    visit the United States and Washington but also for his very informal
    initiation of our negotiations earlier today. Myself and my colleagues
    are very pleased to be here, this historic building of the White House.
    And President Bush deemed it appropriate not only to tour me, to guide
    me through the premises of this house where he lives, he--saw almost
    every picture hanging on the walls of this great building. But it is not
    only very interesting, but it also changes for the better the quality of
    our relationship.
        I would like to once again thank the President and the American
    people, and I would like to express our condolences in connection with
    the recent plane crash in the United States. As they say in Russia,
    tragedy does not come alone, and tragedies always come in many numbers.
    I am confident that the U.S.--American people would face this tragedy
    very bravely.
        I would like to inform you that the Washington part of our
    negotiations is being completed, and our discussions proved very
    constructive, interesting, and useful and will continue at Crawford. But
    the preliminary results we evaluate as extremely positive.
        This is our fourth meeting with President Bush in the last few
    months. I believe this is a vivid demonstration of the dynamic nature of
    the Russian-American relations. We have come to understand each other
    better, and our positions are becoming closer on the key issues of
    bilateral and international relations. We are prepared now to seek
    solutions in all areas of our joint activities. We intend to dismantle
    conclusively the vestiges of the cold war and to develop new--entirely
    new partnership for long term.
        Of course, we discussed in detail the subject matter of fight
    against terrorism. The tragic developments of September the 11th
    demonstrated vividly the need for a joint effort to counter this global
    threat. We consider this threat as a global threat, indeed, and the
    terrorists and those who help them should know that the justice is
    inescapable, and it will reach them wherever they try to hide.
        Also, post-crisis political settlement in Afghanistan was discussed.
    The most important thing for today is to return peace and the life in
    honor to Afghanistan, so that no threat originate from Afghanistan to
    the international stability. Of course, we do not intend to force upon
    the Afghani people the solutions; it is for them to resolve those issues
    with the active participation of the United Nations.
        We discussed in detail our dialog related to strategic offensive and
    defensive weapons. Here, we managed to achieve certain progress. First
    of all, it has to do with the prospects of reaching a reliable and
    verifiable agreement on further reductions of the U.S. and Russian
    weapons.
        Here I must say, we appreciate very much the decision by the
    President to reduce strategic offensive weapons to the limits indicated
    by him. And we, for our part, will try to respond in kind.
        On the issues of missile defense, the position of Russia remains
    unchanged, and we agreed to continue dialog and consultations on this. I
    believe that it's too early now to draw the line under the discussions
    of these issues, and we will have an opportunity to continue the work on
    this--one of the very difficult issues--at the Crawford ranch.
        We also exchanged on a number of topical issues of international
    importance, the Balkans, Iraq. And we reiterated in a joint statement
    the resolve of the United States and Russia to facilitate settlement in
    the Middle East and the early resumption of

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    negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
        We also discussed seriously the development of relations between
    Russia and NATO, including taking into account a changed international
    situation. We consider that there are opportunities for an entirely new
    mechanism, joint decisionmaking, and coordinated action in the area of
    security and stability.
        We considered in detail a number of economic cooperation issues. The
    Russian-American dialog in this area has become recently more
    constructive and more tangible. Such major investment projects as
    Sakhalin I and Caspian Pipeline Consortium are gaining momentum.
    Successful is cooperation in the air-space, mining, chemistry, car
    building, and other industries. Direct contacts are expanding between
    entrepreneurs of the two countries, including within the Russian-
    American business dialog.
        It is with satisfaction that we note a certain progress in issues
    related to the Russia's accession to the WTO, in recognizing Russia as a
    market economy country, and we've felt a great degree of understanding
    that such issues should be resolved, I mean, dealing with the Jackson-
    Vanik amendment, not de facto but in legal terms. And in this context,
    our Foreign Minister and the Secretary of State, Messrs. Ivanov and
    Powell, exchanged letters reiterating the resolve of Russia and the
    United States to observe human rights and religious freedoms.
        Of course, the capabilities embedded in the bilateral relationship
    have not been fully implemented. The key--we have quite a lot of things
    to do, but we are confident that the success is, by and large,
    predetermined by our resolve to cooperate energetically and
    constructively. That, and I'm confident, would benefit both countries
    and which is reflected, also, in our visit to this country today.
        Thank you.

    Situation in Afghanistan

        Q. Mr. President, welcome to the White House, sir. Mr. President,
    the Northern Alliance forces took over Kabul, and there are reports of
    executions of POWs and other violent reprisals. Can the Alliance be
    trusted to form a broad-based government? If not, what should happen
    next to stabilize Afghanistan, and what role, if any, should U.S. troops
    play in that political phase?
        President Bush. First of all, we're making great progress in our
    objective, and that is to tighten the net and eventually bring Al Qaida
    to justice, and at the same time, deal with the Government that has been
    harboring them.
        President Putin and I spent a lot of time talking about the Northern
    Alliance and their relationship to Kabul, as well as Mazar-e Sharif and
    other cities that have now been liberated from the Taliban. I made it
    very clear to him that we would continue to work with the Northern
    Alliance to make sure they recognized that in order for there to be a
    stable Afghanistan, which is one of our objectives, after the Taliban
    leaves, that the country be a good neighbor, that they must recognize
    that a future government must include a representative from all of
    Afghanistan.
        We listened very carefully to the comments coming out of the
    Northern Alliance today. And they made it very clear they had no
    intention of occupying Kabul. That's what they said. I have seen
    reports, which you refer to, and I also saw a report that said, on their
    way out of town, the Taliban was wreaking havoc on the citizenry of
    Kabul. And if that be the case--I haven't had it verified one way or the
    other, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. After all, the Taliban
    has been wreaking havoc on the entire country for over a decade. This
    has been on of the most repressive regimes in the history of mankind.
    But we will continue to work with our Northern Alliance--with the
    Northern Alliance commanders to make sure they respect the

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    human rights of the people that they are liberating.
        I also saw reports--and I think President Putin mentioned this today
    as well--that in some of the northern cities, there was great joyous--a
    wonderful, joyous occasion as the citizens were free, free from
    repression, free from a dictatorial government. But we are both mindful,
    particularly mindful of the need for us to work with our Northern
    Alliance friends to treat people with respect.
        President Putin. All our actions were aimed at liberating the
    northern parts of Afghanistan and the capital of Afghanistan, liberate
    from the Taliban regime. And any military action is accompanied not only
    by the military resistance but also an information resistance, what we
    are witnessing right now, exactly.
        We tend to forget now the destruction of the cultural heritage of
    humankind. We tend to forget now the atrocities by Taliban. And we are
    talking less than usual of the Taliban harboring international
    terrorism. The information that Northern Alliance are shooting--are
    shooting the prisoners of war was launched a few days ago. The Northern
    Alliance was not in Kabul a few days ago; they were liberating northern
    parts of the country.
        And for those who do not know, I will tell, the northern part of the
    country is inhabited by the ethnic groups represented in the Northern
    Alliance; I mean, Uzbeks and Tajiks. It is very difficult for me to
    imagine them shooting their own population. I utterly exclude this. If
    there are any instances in the course of the military action of the
    violation of human rights and treatment of the prisoners of war, we must
    investigate and take action. But we need proof.
        Talking of this, we should not forget the things that we see: the
    way people meet advancing Northern Alliance troops, liberating the
    cities and villages of the Taliban; the women getting rid of chadors and
    burning them. And this, I would like you, ladies and gentlemen of the
    press, to pay attention to.
        Thank you.

    Possible Visit to Russia/Nuclear Arms Reduction

        Q. Specific numbers were mentioned here with regard to the
    reductions of offensive weapons. When, and if at all, one could expect
    that such specific numbers made public be substantiated by some papers,
    maybe during a possible visit by President Bush to Moscow? And by the
    way, when could this visit take place?
        President Bush. Got to get invited first. [Laughter]
        Do you want to start?
        President Putin. President Bush is aware of that, and I would like
    to reiterate: He has an open invitation to visit the Russian Federation,
    with an official working or a private visit, in any format, at any time
    convenient for him. I mean, the best time would be during the time of
    the beginning of the year, White Nights in St. Petersburg. [Laughter] Of
    course, the official part would start in Moscow, in the capital of the
    Russian Federation.
        But as for the business part, I think that before that time, our
    advisers will continue working. And we, for our part, for the Russian
    part, are prepared to present all our agreements in a treaty form,
    including the issues of verification and control.
        President Bush. I think it's interesting to note that a new
    relationship based upon trust and cooperation is one that doesn't need
    endless hours of arms control discussions. I can remember watching the
    news years ago and seeing that people would sit at tables for hours and
    hours and hours trying to reach reduced levels of nuclear armament.
        My attitude is: Here's what we can live with. And so I've announced
    a level that we're going to--that we'll stick by. To me, that's how you
    approach a relationship that is changed and different. And we'd be glad
    to--and I looked the man in the eye and

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    shook his hand, but if we need to write it down on a piece of paper,
    I'll be glad to do that. But that's what our Government is going to do
    over the next 10 years.
        And we don't need an arms control agreement or an arms control--let
    me say this--we don't need arms control negotiations to reduce our
    weaponry in a significant way. And today you've now heard for the first
    time the level that I think is commensurate with the spirit of reducing
    our own weaponry and, at the same time, keeping the peace.

    ABM Treaty

        Q. You mentioned vast discussions on the ABM Treaty. What progress
    are you making? And are you convinced you won't have to withdraw from
    the treaty now?
        President Bush. Well, I'm convinced that the treaty is outdated, and
    we need to move beyond it. And we're having discussions along those
    lines. We had good discussions today; we had good discussions in
    Shanghai; we had good discussions in Slovenia; and we'll have good
    discussions in Crawford. This is obviously a subject that's got a lot of
    ramifications to it. I clearly heard what the President has had to say
    and his view of the ABM Treaty. He's heard what I've had to say, and
    we'll continue working it.
        But my position is, is that it is a piece of paper that's codified a
    relationship that no longer exists, codified a hateful relationship. And
    now we've got a friendly relationship. And I think we need to have a new
    strategic framework that reflects the new relationship, based upon trust
    and cooperation. But we'll continue to work it.

    Freedom of the Press

        Q. A question to President Bush. His advisers expressed concern over
    the situation with the freedom of speech in Russia. But after September
    11th, it would seem to me that the situation is changing somewhat in the
    United States, too. There are special rules for covering anti-terrorist
    operation, bin Laden is denied any opportunity to present his views in
    the media--quite appropriately, in my view--and so on and so forth. The
    authority of the special services have been extended, and there have
    been rumors that some of your members of your administration went to
    Hollywood explaining to them a few things. Where is the line in the sand
    where--beyond which it is impossible to cross, delineating a voluntary
    restraint on the part of the media and----
        President Bush. Yes. First of all, I have been trying to tame our
    press corps ever since I got into politics, and I've failed miserably.
    [Laughter] They get to express their opinions, sometimes in the form of
    news--[laughter]--any way they want to.
        I asked them the other day, ``Would it be okay if I cut a 30-minute
    tape, a piece of propaganda? No questions. Just here--here it is; here's
    30 minutes of me talking. Please run it not only across your airwaves
    but run it internationally, if you don't mind. I've got something to say
    about the conflict and our fight against evil.'' They said, no, they're
    not going to do that. If I'm going to have to get on the news, they've
    got to ask me questions.
        And so we extended the same courtesy to
    Usama bin Laden. He doesn't get to just cut a 30-minute tape, where he
    may be calling his soldiers to action, where he is definitely condemning
    all Jews, Christians, threatening individuals, to be able to put a 30-
    minute propaganda tape on the free airwaves. And we made that
    suggestion. We didn't dictate; we just suggested. And some of the news
    organizations--or all the news organizations readily agreed that was a
    responsible posture to take. And for that, I'm grateful.
        But the press in America has never been stronger and never been
    freer and never been more vibrant--sometimes to my chagrin and a lot of
    times to my delight. But whoever thinks that I have the capability or my
    government has the capability of

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    reining in this press corps simply doesn't understand the American way.
        President Putin. I would also offer a couple of words. Today, giving
    a rostrum to international terrorists would be equal to giving an
    opportunity to--[inaudible]--newspapers of the Second World War times
    to--an opportunity to print Dr. Goebbels' articles. This question could
    be turned in the following way: What is the limit and what is the
    measure of giving an opportunity to the terrorists and destructive
    element to use media in pursuit of their antihuman, inhuman objectives?
    Let's look at it this way.

    Situation in Afghanistan

        Q. Yes, sir, Mr. President, thank you. If I could return to the
    situation in Afghanistan, where the concern seems to be a potential
    breakdown in civil order and a possible dramatic increase in civil
    conflict between the tribes in the Northern Alliance and other groups,
    which President Putin's country has experience with, what specifically
    can be done in the next several days to ensure the safety of the
    citizens of Kabul? And does the Northern Alliance, now that they've
    taken that city, enjoy pride of place at the bargaining table in the
    future of Afghanistan?
        President Bush. There is no preferential place at the bargaining
    table. All people will be treated the same. That's what we're working
    with our friends the Russians on. That's the concept we're working on
    with the U.N. And that's only fair. That's been the vision all along.
    That's been the vision we talked about in Shanghai. It's the vision we
    have shared again today.
        Secondly, I repeat, the Northern Alliance, with whom President Putin
    has got some influence and I've got some influence, has told us both
    they have no intention of occupying--and they've said this publicly--
    they intend not to occupy Kabul, which is fine. That's the way it ought
    to be. And we will continue to work with their commanders. We've got
    troops there with their commanders, and we will continue to urge
    restraint.
        Again, I think before we jump to conclusions, we want to make sure
    we understand what the facts are, because the evacuating army has been
    one that has held this country--has terrorized this country for a long
    period of time. But any--regardless of that, any--any--army, advancing
    or retreating, needs to treat people with respect. And we will continue
    to work that they do so.
        President Putin. Well, the thing is that the Northern Alliance did
    not take Kabul by storm. The Northern Alliance is looming over--has been
    looming over Kabul for a long time. That was our mutual agreement with
    President Bush. And suddenly, they discovered, all of a sudden, that
    Kabul had been abandoned, and they had to insert there certain security
    elements to prevent looting and robberies and murders. There was
    complete lawlessness in that city, and the situation must be put under
    control, and it was very difficult. It would be very difficult for us if
    we--to meet with the Northern Alliance leaders to tell them that they've
    negated their obligation.
        The city of Kabul was abandoned by Taliban. They were trying to
    preserve their manpower and their equipment, a very cunning move on the
    part of Taliban. Maybe, technically, their decision was right, but we
    should not be deluded on that score. Quite a serious amount of work is
    still ahead. They did not disappear; they just moved out of the city, a
    few kilometers from there. And I am absolutely in agreement with the
    President on the need to follow the developments with a view to
    preventing abuses of human rights and maltreatment of the POWs, although
    the line we agreed upon has not been yet reached.
        Dear colleagues, the final question.

    Pakistan/Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

        Q. Two questions to two Presidents. Mr. Bush, what is your
    evaluation of the situation in Pakistan, which was always in the sphere
    of influence of the United States,

    [[Page 1398]]

    and whether there are any dangers that the forces up in opposition to
    General Musharraf would gain control of the nuclear weapons?
        And to President Putin, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan made available
    their airbases and their air corridors to the United States Armed
    Forces, giving the green light. Can you tell us whether you gave a green
    light to that? Aren't you apprehensive of the struggle for power and
    influence in that area?
        President Bush. I had a very good dinner with President Musharraf last Saturday night in New York
    City. It's the first time I had met him. My Secretary of State had met him in Pakistan, as had my Secretary of
    Defense and other officials in my
    administration. All of us came away with our respect for President
    Musharraf and our desire to make sure that his administration is
    successful in Pakistan.
        The best way to make sure that terrorists do not end up with nuclear
    weaponry in that part of the world is for
    President Musharraf to provide a stable government and to fulfill what
    he said he would do, which is to have elections in a short period of
    time. And I believe he is--he deserves our Nation's support, and so we
    are putting together a economic package that will help him with debt,
    help him with the expenses of the ongoing operations, help him with
    trade. And we will continue a dialog with the Pakistan leader, with the
    full intent of finding ways we can cooperate, in order to bring
    stability to that part of the world.
        President Putin. With regard to the possible redrawing of the
    spheres of influence and the enhanced American influence in the central
    Asia, I would like to say the following: I am more concerned with the
    presence of the terrorist training camps in the northern Afghanistan,
    who send guerrillas to the Caucasus--have been sending in the recent
    years. After Ahmed Shah Massoud was killed, I had a very, very sad
    feeling. That was prior to September 11th. And I told President Bush at
    that time that perhaps some serious developments are in the making. And
    this is concerning--this concerns me very much.
        If we look at the relationship between the Russian Federation and
    the United States from the old standpoint, distrust and the enmity,
    that's one thing. If we are looking through the prism of partnership and
    alliance, we have nothing to be afraid of. This is one thing. Secondly,
    one shouldn't forget that both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are independent
    states and decide, therefore, in policies independently, who cooperate
    with and at which level.
        But focusing my attention at the following circumstance, and I
    related it to President Bush quite frankly--we've just mentioned
    President Musharraf. We all should support President Musharraf. This
    would be the right thing to do. And we agree with this, and we accept
    this. It is also true that American flags are being burned in the
    streets of the Pakistani cities; one should not leave that unnoticed.
        In Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Muslim countries, too, American
    flags are not being burned. Moreover, those countries cooperate, for the
    first time, so openly and so consistently with the United States and
    with the international alliance against terrorism. Being Muslim
    countries with their own problems, none of them are squeaking or crying
    foul; they are trying to address their own problems on their own.
        And in these conditions, the continued application of Jackson-Vanik
    amendment to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and so on and so forth, one
    wouldn't call it justified and just. We need to and want to build a new
    relationship in the new 21st century.
        Thank you very much.
        President Bush. Thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 1:50 p.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to President
    Putin's wife, Lyudmila; Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov of
    Russia; Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist

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    organization; and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. The President
    also referred to the June 13 Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and security
    plan negotiated by CIA Director George J. Tenet; and the Report of the
    Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, chaired by former Senator George
    J. Mitchell, issued April 30. President Putin referred to Northern
    Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, victim of a September 9 attack by
    suicide bombers. President Putin spoke in Russian, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.