    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 21, 2001]
    [Pages 1287-1291]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Shanghai
    October 21, 2001

        President Putin. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We will
    briefly inform you about the meeting and talks with the U.S. President.
        In our assessment, in Russian assessment, the meeting was really
    productive and useful, as well as during our previous negotiations at
    Ljubljana and Genoa. It was a forthright and trustful talk.
        Today, Russian-U.S. cooperation develops smoothly, and we take full
    note of the global changes that took place in the world, and we
    consistently strengthen the foundation of our new relations. In this
    century, our strategic priority is a long-term cooperation and
    partnership, a partnership which is based upon common values of one
    civilization, the partnership which works for our common goals of
    development and progress. And precisely in this direction we intend to
    move.
        November this year, our full-fledged negotiations with the United
    States are to take place. And we will discuss U.S.-Russia relations in
    detail and the most significant issues of the world's policies. And the
    relevant instructions to prepare this meeting were given to our experts
    and agencies.
        The consequences of the tragic events of September 11th--political,
    economic, psychological consequences--today are acutely felt in many
    countries and in all the continents. I think nobody has doubts the
    unprecedented carnage of the terrorists requires our united efforts,
    unification of the efforts of international community to fight
    terrorism. And we prepared and we issued a joint statement in this
    regard.
        We analyzed in detail the developments of the Russia-U.S. dialog on
    strategic stability issue. As you remember, during Genoa meeting, there
    was an agreement to reach about joint work on strategic offensive and
    defensive weapons, which are interrelated. And in our assessment, we
    made progress here.
        First of all, it relates to START issue. We reaffirmed our mutual
    intention to reduce strategic offensive weapons. And now our task is to
    develop parameters of such reductions and to design a reliable and
    verifiable method to reduce nuclear arsenals of Russia and United
    States.
        As for the ABM-related issues, we also made some progress--at least,
    I believe we do have understanding that we can reach

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    agreements, taking into account national interests of Russia, United
    States, and taking into account the necessity to strengthen
    international stability in this very important area.
        During the meeting, we exchanged opinions on the most pressing
    regional issues: Iraq, Middle East, the Balkans. We intend to discuss
    relations of Russian Federation with NATO.
        We attach special importance to deepening business relations between
    Russia and the United States. We agreed in Ljubljana and Genoa to pay
    increased attention to that, and this agreement works. Russia-American
    trade, economic, and investment links have been considerably broadened.
    Over the last months, U.S. Secretary of Trade Minister Evans came to
    Moscow twice, and we received Paul O'Neill and Robert Zoellick in
    Moscow. And we felt a clear signal from the U.S. President, and all our
    partners displayed a sincere desire to develop our relations.
        Business in Russia with the United States is moving forward, and not
    only U.S. and Russian companies--big companies--participate in it but
    also small and medium enterprises. We agreed to work on concrete
    measures in economic interaction. We will discuss it with more details
    in November in Texas.
        Thank you for your attention.
        President Bush. My administration seeks 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. Today, after my third meeting with Vladimir Putin
    in 5 months and after the events of the last 5 weeks, we can report
    progress toward that goal, positive progress.
        Within hours after September the 11th attacks, President Putin
    called. He extended his sympathy, and he extended his support. He did
    something more. He knew that the American military was moving to high
    alert status. To simplify our situation, to show solidarity, he ordered
    Russia's military to stop a set of exercises that were getting underway.
    America, and I in particular, will remember this act of friendship in a
    time of need.
        Today, the world is building a broad international coalition against
    terrorism, and Russia is taking a full and responsible role in the
    coalition. Russia is sharing valuable intelligence on terrorist
    organizations, providing overflight clearance for humanitarian missions,
    and helping out diplomatically.
        It is clear that President Putin understands the magnitude of the
    terrorist threat. It is clear there's a lot the United States and Russia
    can do together to defeat terrorism. The challenges and goals we share
    provide an opportunity to rethink and renew a broader relationship.
        Both our nations are working to prevent proliferation and to reduce
    the threat from cold war weapon stockpiles throughout the former Soviet
    Union. We also see progress in our efforts to build a new strategic
    framework. Today we discussed significantly lowering offensive nuclear
    weapon arsenals within a framework that includes limited defenses,
    defenses that are able to protect both our lands from political
    blackmail, from potential terrorist attack. Both our nations must be
    able to defend ourselves against the new threats of the 21st century,
    including long-range ballistic missiles. The events of September the
    11th make it clearer than ever that a cold war ABM treaty that prevents
    us from defending our people is outdated and, I believe, dangerous.
        Economic cooperation and progress will be an important part of our
    new relationship. With the right incentives and a firm commitment to
    rule of law, there is no question in my mind a new class of
    entrepreneurs can grow and flourish in Russia. And there's no question
    in my mind that American businesses and American investment can foster
    that trend. Both President Putin and I are anxious to see this happen.

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        And our new relationship is one of candor. I emphasized to Vladimir
    Putin that the war on terror is not and cannot be a war on minorities.
    It's important to distinguish between those who pursue legitimate
    political aspirations, and terrorists.
        We're also looking at ways we can work together in the development
    of a free media in Russia. We had a good and serious exchange. Both of
    us see great opportunity. Both of us see positive good that has come out
    of the evil of September the 11th. Both of us are willing to work hard
    to seize the moment, to make sure we foster a new and unique and
    constructive relationship between our two great lands.
        I'll be glad to answer some questions. Mr. Fournier [Ron Fournier,
    Associated Press], I take it you're the first one.

    International Support Against Terrorism/ABM Treaty

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, your communique did not mention
    the war in Afghanistan, and several leaders at this meeting have urged
    America to end the conflict quickly. What do you intend to do to cure
    this queasiness about your military initiative?
        And to President Putin, do you agree with President Bush that the
    ABM, post-September 11th, is dangerous to the world? And if so, are you
    more open to modifying it or scrapping it?
        President Bush. I think I listened to probably 3 or 4 hours of
    discussions about our campaign against terrorism. And there was a very
    strong support for our activities, strong support for sharing
    intelligence, strong support for the diplomatic front we're waging,
    strong support to disrupt the financial operations of the terrorists,
    and strong support for our military operations in Afghanistan.
        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. 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.
    And the people of the United States need to know that we're not
    conducting these operations alone. We've got universal support around
    the world.
        President Putin. I would like to tell a couple of words about the
    first question. First of all, I fully agree with the position of
    President Bush, and I believe that his action was measured and adequate
    to the threat that the United States was confronted with.
        It's first. Second, and it is very important for everybody to know,
    if we started fighting terrorism, it should be completed, because
    otherwise, terrorists might have an impression that they are not
    vulnerable. And in that case, their actions would be more dangerous,
    more insolent, and would result in worse consequences.
        As for the ABM Treaty of 1972, our position is well known, and I can
    reproduce it once again. We believe it is an important element of
    stability in the world. But we agree, and I said it several times, that
    we should think about future. We should look into the future, and we
    should react adequately to possibly threats in future. And we are
    prepared to discuss that with our American partners, of course, in
    case--if certain parameters for this discussion is provided to us.

    Russia-U.S. Relations

        Q. I have a question to the American President. Recently you talked
    much that U.S.-Russia relations gained a new strategic nature. And you
    even called Vladimir Putin your friend. Could you give specific examples
    of the changes in political, military, and especially economic sphere?
        President Bush. Well, I think the first sign of our new relationship
    is that he knows I don't view Russia as an enemy, that we're not a
    threat to Russia. And I know that he's not going to threaten the

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    United States. That's a different attitude from the old days.
        The old days, we used to distrust each other. The old days, the
    discussions were not very frank and candid. They were probably
    bureaucratic in nature. And we have a very frank and open relationship
    because we're not a threat. As a matter of fact, we're looking for ways
    to form alliances and to find common ground. We actively seek ways to
    fight terrorism.
        Vladimir Putin was the first person to call. That's what a friend
    does, calls in a time of need, and he called. It's clear to me that he
    understands that we're developing a new relationship. After all, in the
    old days, had an American President put their troops on alert, Russia
    would have responded. And then America would have upped the ante, and
    then Russia would have upped the ante, and 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. To me, that signals a brand new attitude, a
    different point of view, someone who doesn't fear America but someone
    who wants to find ways to work with America. And so it's an attitude
    change, for starters.
        Secondly, I look forward to working with him on a new strategic
    framework. I also look forward to working with him on ways to encourage
    the flow of capital from the United States into Russia. Russia is a land
    of vast natural resources. It's also a land of a different kind of
    resource, and that's brainpower. Russia has got a lot of entrepreneurial
    talent. And I'm confident that the United States and our entrepreneurs
    and Russian entrepreneurs will find ways to work together. So we've got
    a lot in common.
        But the thing that really bound us together most right now is our
    common desire to fight terrorism. And he understands what I understand,
    that the new wars of the 21st century will be fought fighting evildoers,
    people that have no country, people that may try to take a country,
    parasites that may try to leech onto a host country. But that's the true
    threat and the true threat for both our Governments. And we'll work
    together to fight terrorism. And he is an active participant in the
    coalition, and I'm grateful for his support and advice.
        Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters], I presume it's you, since you're
    about to stand up.

    ABM Treaty/Nuclear Arms Reductions

        Q. Yes, thank you very much, sir. Did you tell Mr. Putin that you
    would begin the process of withdrawing from the ABM Treaty by the end of
    the year? And did you give him a figure on missile cuts?
        President Bush. Let's see--no, to the second. Let me be a little
    more expansive. I told Mr. Putin that we are in the process of analyzing
    our nuclear arsenal and that I intended to fulfill a campaign process,
    which was that we were going to reduce our nuclear arsenal to a level
    that would help maintain the peace, on the one hand--on the other hand,
    that would also represent the realities of the 21st century.
        Secondly, I reiterated exactly what I told Vladimir in Slovenia--
    that I felt like the ABM Treaty was outmoded and outdated, and it was
    time for us to see if we couldn't work together to move beyond the ABM
    Treaty.
        Q. [Inaudible]
        President Bush. Well, we've got work to do between now and Crawford,
    and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Let me just rephrase
    that--now and Washington/Crawford.
        But he knows my feelings about the ABM Treaty, and so does America--
    actually, the world now, I think, fully understands it. It was a treaty
    written when our nations hated each other. We no longer hate each other.
    As a matter of fact, we're finding ways to cooperate. It's also a treaty

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    that prevents peace-loving nations from developing systems necessary to
    hold terrorists who might acquire weapons of mass destruction to be
    delivered by ballistic missiles--won't be able to hold them accountable.
        And we're in a new war, a new environment. And it seems wise to me
    to react to that environment in a positive way. We'll continue working
    with each other and see if we can't find common ground on the ABM
    Treaty.

    Russia-U.S. Cooperation

        Q. I have question to both Presidents. It attracts our attention
    that you are building a good understanding on key problems. Can you say
    with certainty that your teams will act in the same spirit?
        President Bush. [Laughter] That's a very interesting question, isn't
    it--a man who understands bureaucracy. Well, I can assure you that the
    Secretary of State understands my point of
    view and is working hard with his counterpart to achieve the common
    ground we seek. We have sent--as Vladimir mentioned, we sent our
    Secretary of Treasury and Secretary of
    Commerce and our Trade
    Representative to Russia to talk about
    ways to cooperate, talk about ways to enhance the flow of capital from
    the United States into Russia.
        And so the answer to your question is, absolutely, that we will--
    that this attitude will be shared throughout our Government. And it's a
    very good question you ask, because sometimes the intended top doesn't
    necessarily get translated throughout the levels of Government. I'm
    confident, though, in this case, that it will happen. It's too important
    a relationship to allow bureaucratic intransigence to delay what I
    believe is going to be one of the more interesting relationships as we
    head into the 21st century.
        I think it's necessary that United States and Russia cooperate. I
    think it's going to make the world more peaceful. I think it will lend a
    lot of stability in Europe, as well, when we find ways to cooperate.
        President Putin. President Bush told a lot of warm words about
    myself in public, and I'm grateful to him for that. And I feel his
    attitude outside formal events, and I hope that he has the same feeling
    when he talks to me.
        By the way, it does not prevent us from protecting our viewpoints
    and from having our viewpoints, defending the national interests of our
    countries. In particular, with regard to the ABM, we continue our
    discussion. You can see that.
        I agree with many positions that President Bush puts forward, and
    one cannot but agree with them. In such complex issue like the ABM
    Treaty, we have common approach on the basis of which we can discuss it
    and propose solutions. But it would be difficult for me to agree that
    some terrorists will be able to capture intercontinental missiles and
    will be able to use them. So we always have discussions, but our good
    relations does not impede this process.
        Speaking about teams, of course, there is always a bureaucratic
    threat. But I would like to draw attention to the fact that, if we talk
    about teams, it's a group of like-minded men that we choose ourselves.
    And if a team, a so-called team does something different from what we
    recognize as the right way of developing our relations, I wouldn't like
    to have such people around us.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 7:40 p.m. at the Portman
    Ritz-Carlton Hotel. President Putin spoke in Russian, and his remarks
    were translated by an interpreter.