    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
    [Pages 1284-1288]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's News Conference With President Vladimir Putin of Russia
    in Moscow

    June 4, 2000

        President Putin.  Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I will allow
    myself to begin summing up our 2 days of work with our guests and
    partners, with the President of the United States, Mr. Bill Clinton, and
    members of his team. For 2 days now, we worked very intensively. And I
    have to say right off the bat that both in terms of the spirit and the
    quality of our talks, as well as the results, the Russian side cannot
    but express its satisfaction.
        We discussed issues of interest in our opinion not only to the
    United States and the Russian Federation but to the other countries, as
    well, on global matters--all of mankind's interest really lies here. We
    discussed in great detail everything that had been done in this very
    important--issues of interest to both of our sides, and that which have
    been in the last several years. We agree that we're going to be acting
    in this direction jointly in the future.
        We discussed the issues of new global threats, threats such as
    terrorism, narcotics, crime. We talked about issues which, to our mind,
    have a certain solution; in the estimation of our American colleagues,
    maybe have a different kind of a solution. We exchanged ideas and
    opinions on issues to which we had different solutions in the past.
    These talks were very candid, very open, and very topical.
        As you know, with my colleague, with the President of the United
    States, I signed several documents, including statements on security.
    And many things are determined and defined there, and much is said in
    these documents. The result I think can be summed up by saying that we
    not only confirmed the high level of our relations, but we also
    expressed the trend of the development of our relations between our two
    countries for the near future.
        I wanted to stress here, ladies and gentlemen, the following, that
    over the last period of time, say a year or even more, the relations
    between our two countries have been of a varied kind. At one time, we
    had relations increasing and improving, then they would be falling. But
    that high level, which was reached over the last 8 years by the efforts
    of the Russian leadership and of the administration of President
    Clinton, allowed us to always find a way out of these crises with honor,
    not only to reestablish good relations but also to solve problems where
    we had disagreements. And we really cherish this. I am pleased to note
    here that in these very tough questions, we observed not only a desire
    to speak but also to find joint and mutually beneficial solutions.
        We discussed also topics that had to do with bilateral economic
    interests. Here I wanted to say that the Russian Federation, in the face
    of your humble servant and the Chairman of the Government, the Prime
    Minister, Mr. Kasyanov, the leading ministers of the Government who
    participated and took part in these talks and negotiations not only
    informed and described to our American guests what's happening
    economically in Russia today but also discussed with

    [[Page 1285]]

    our partners joint actions, joint activities, both of a bilateral nature
    as well as within the framework of international financial institutions.
        I wanted to stress here as well that the Russian Federation aims not
    only to go through its transformation, about which many people have so
    much spoken, but very decisively to do so in a practical way. I mean
    moving ahead on the tax code and moving ahead on production sharing.
    Here we have some issues which we have not yet been able to resolve
    between us and the state Duma, but I think these are rather technical
    issues. I think, together with the Deputies in the state Duma, we're
    going to be trying to find solutions and finally get this legislation.
        We spoke about the upcoming international events, the Okinawa
    summit, the Millennium summit in the United Nations in New York, the
    Brunei meeting. In this way, Mr. Clinton and myself, we have reached an
    accord on further joint progress along a whole series of issues, which
    not only we discussed today and yesterday and which we will still have
    an opportunity to discuss some more tomorrow, to move ahead on these
    issues at the events that I have listed.
        On behalf of the leadership of the Russian Federation, I want to
    thank the American delegation not only for accepting our invitation and
    coming to Russia but for a very constructive and businesslike discussion
    in an attempt to find solutions.
        Thank you so much for your attention.
        President Clinton.  I would like to first thank President Putin and
    the Russian delegation for making us feel welcome and for these talks.
        I have come to Moscow at an important time. Russia, after all, has a
    new President, new government, new Duma. Its economy is showing
    encouraging signs of growth. This gives Russia a pivotal opportunity to
    build on the strong record of engagement between our two countries. It
    is also an opportunity for the United States.
        I welcome President Putin's interest in building a Russia that
    enjoys the enduring strength of a stable democracy. President Yeltsin
    led Russia to freedom. Under President Putin, Russia has the chance to
    build prosperity and strength, while safeguarding that freedom and the
    rule of law.
        We've had good discussions both last night and today on a range of
    common interests, including nonproliferation and arms control. We
    expressed our differences with clarity and candor. And I, for one,
    appreciate that. The importance of this relationship to ourselves and
    the world demands that we take every opportunity we can to find common
    ground and that, where we cannot find it, we express our differences
    with clarity and candor.
        I congratulated President Putin on the key role he played in the
    Duma's ratification of START II and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
    The United States ratified START II first, and I hope we will now follow
    Russia in ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. I also look
    forward to the ratification of the START II protocols by our Senate so
    that we can get about the business of further reducing the number of
    nuclear missiles that we have.
        I am very pleased today we agreed on two other major steps to reduce
    the nuclear danger. We reached an important agreement each to destroy 34
    tons of military-grade plutonium, enough to make thousands of warheads.
    This raw weapon material that will now never fall into the wrong hands.
        We also agreed to establish a joint data exchange center in Moscow
    to share early warning information on missile and space launches. This
    is terribly important. It is the first permanent U.S.-Russia military
    operation ever.
        In this new center, Russian and American military officials will be
    working side by side, 24 hours a day, to monitor missile warning
    information. It is a milestone in enhancing strategic stability, and I
    welcome it.
        The President and I also discussed our common commitment to prevent
    the proliferation of missile technology and our determination to exert
    firm control over exports of sensitive technology and strictly enforce
    export control laws and regulations.
        We discussed our common interest in commercial space cooperation,
    including the successful joint venture that launches commercial
    satellites. We agreed that our teams

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    would soon meet to discuss future cooperation in the commercial space
    area, with the aim of moving toward eliminating existing constraints on
    commercial space launches.
        We also had a thorough discussion of our work on the START III
    treaty and the issue of national missile defense. We have agreed to a
    statement of principles, which I urge you to read carefully. It makes
    clear that there is an emerging ballistic missile threat that must be
    addressed, though we have not yet agreed on how best to do so.
        We have acknowledged that the ABM Treaty foresees the possibility of
    changes in the strategic environment that might require it to be
    updated. We have reaffirmed our commitment to pursue further reduction
    in offensive arms in parallel with our discussions on defense systems,
    underscoring the importance of the doctrines of strategic stability and
    mutual deterrence as the foundation for this work.
        We've asked our experts to keep working to narrow the differences
    and to develop a series of cooperative measures to address the missile
    threat. And we have agreed that we will continue to discuss it in our
    next meeting.
        We spent a large share of our time discussing economics. I'm
    encouraged by the economic plan President Putin has outlined and by the
    current recovery. I look forward to Russia's continuing to implement
    proposed reforms that will actually make the recovery last, reforms such
    as tax reform, anti-money-laundering legislation, strong property rights
    protections.
        I look forward to Russia's successful negotiations with the IMF.
    This is a good economic team with a very good opportunity to increase
    investment in Russia, both the return of money that Russians have placed
    outside the country and new investments from other countries.
        Later this month, our former Ambassador to Moscow, Bob Strauss, will
    come to Russia with a delegation of investors, including some of
    America's best-known chief executive officers, to discuss opportunities
    in Russia and the steps Russia is taking to improve its investment
    climate. I think this will be only the beginning of a very successful
    effort at economic reform, if the intentions that President Putin
    outlined become reality.
        The President and I also discussed another area where we disagree,
    Chechnya. I have restated the opposition that I have to a policy which
    is well-known. Essentially, I believe a policy that causes so many
    civilian casualties without a political solution ultimately cannot
    succeed. I also urged President Putin to move forward with transparent
    and impartial investigations of the stories of human rights violations
    and to authorize a speedy return of the OSCE to the region.
        Finally, I stressed to President Putin the importance the United
    States places on protecting religious freedom and the rights of an
    independent media. I strongly agree with what President Putin himself
    has said, that Russia has no future if it suppresses civic freedoms and
    the press.
        We agreed to advance our technical cooperation on climate change. We
    believe it's essential to complete work on the Kyoto Protocol, including
    market mechanisms, to protect the environment, promote clean energy, and
    reduce costs. I think Russia has a great economic opportunity here as
    well as a great environmental one.
        And on these issues, the President and I are asking the U.S.-Russia
    binational commission, under the leadership of Vice President Gore and
    Prime Minister Kasyanov, to carry forward the work.
        I was encouraged by our discussion, pleased with our agreements,
    pleased with the candor and clarity of our disagreements. I am eager for
    more progress. I'm also looking forward to the chance to talk to the
    Russian people tonight in a radio talk show, and tomorrow, as I have the
    opportunity to speak to the Duma and the Federation Council.
        Again Mr. President, I thank you for this and especially for these
    two agreements, and I look forward to our continued work together.

    Russia-U.S. Relations

        Q.  The question to the President of Russia. What is the priority
    you give to Russian-American relations in the world, and a world that,
    as we see, is changing and forming in a different way?
        Thank you.

    [[Page 1287]]

        President Putin.  The history of relations of the former Soviet
    Union and the United States of America, and now Russian Federation and
    the United States--its history, as I've said, has many dramatic as well
    as many positive elements. We were allies. There was a period of time
    when we suffered through confrontation between our two sides. One would
    hope that the very worst in our relations is far, far behind us.
        For today, the United States is one of our main partners. And as far
    as Russia is concerned, it will never make the choice regarding the
    United States in order to start once again confrontation. Never. We are
    for cooperation. We are for coming to agreement on problems that might
    arise.
        And naturally, problems like this exist and have existed and
    probably will exist. That is not important. What's important is that the
    approach to finding a solution is only one--it's unique--it cannot be
    aimed at destroying everything positive that has been achieved in the
    recent past but also looking into the future. And this kind of chance
    and this intention among the leadership of Russia, as well as I
    understand it, among the leadership of the United States, the President
    of the United States, we are going to follow these principles, these
    kinds of tendencies.

    Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

        Q.  Mr. President, do you see the chance that the United States
    would exercise its option to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile
    Treaty if it is not possible to negotiate changes to permit a national
    missile defense? And was this possibility raised in your discussions
    with President Putin?
        President Clinton.  Well, first of all, I have not made a decision
    on the national missile defense stage one. It is premature. The
    statement of principles that we have agreed to I thought reflected an
    attempt to bring our positions closer together. I do not believe the
    decision before me is a threat to strategic stability and mutual
    deterrence. The Russian side disagrees. But we had a lot of agreement
    here.
        And again, let me say, I urge you all to read that. I do not want
    the United States to withdraw from the ABM regime because, I think, it
    has contributed to a more stable, more peaceful world. It has already
    been amended once, and its framers understood that circumstances might
    change and threats might arise which were outside the context of U.S.-
    now Russian relations. We acknowledge that there is a threat. It needs
    to be met, and we're trying to bridge our differences. And I think
    that's where we ought to leave it.

    START Treaties

        Q.  President Clinton, Mr. President, what do you feel about
    Russia's continuation of reducing within START III the number of
    warheads down to 1,500 warheads?
        Thank you.
        President Clinton.  I missed the translation. Would you give it to
    me again?
        Q.  What would be the attitude of the United States, Mr. President,
    on the Russian position of coming down to 1,500 warheads within START
    III?
        President Clinton.  Well, we had previously agreed to a range of
    2,000 to 2,500 on START III. If we were to come down below that, it
    would require us to change our strategic plan. And we believe it would
    be much better if we were going to do that, if we could also know that
    we were defending ourselves against a new threat, which we believe is
    real. So we will continue to discuss all these things.
        Let me say, I am certain--I am eager to get down to the START II
    levels, and I am eager to go below the START II levels, but I also want
    to try to solve the new threat, as well. And I will do whatever I can to
    achieve both objectives.

    Clinton/Putin Relationship

        Q.  This is for both Presidents. Now that you have met together as
    Presidents, how would you describe each other's personalities and
    leadership qualities? And how do you see them affecting relations
    between the two countries? And in particular, President Clinton, are you
    any more or less assured about the future of democracy in Russia
    following your meetings today?
        President Clinton.  You want to go first?

    [[Page 1288]]

        President Putin.  As you know, this is not our first meeting,
    between myself and President Clinton. President Clinton, now for almost
    8 years, heads one of the most powerful countries in the world. He's a
    very experienced politician. In my mind, we've established now not only
    good business ties but also personal relations. For me, President
    Clinton is a person who is a very comfortable and pleasant partner in
    negotiations.
        I think that if everyone behaves the way President Clinton has
    behaved, not trying to find dead ends and problems but to seek ways of
    moving ahead, I think, between us in the future our relations really
    will be successful. Take a look at the ABM Treaty. There are a lot of
    problems there. We've written down in our statement, about which Mr.
    Clinton just spoke, a basis, a principle of basis for maintaining the
    ABM Treaty as a major key point in the whole strategic balance and for
    maintaining security.
        Now, the starting point for the possibility of seeing new threats
    arrive, we have a commonality. We're against having a cure which is
    worse than the disease. We understand that there are ways and a basis
    that we can build upon in order to solve even this issue, an issue which
    seems to be one of the most difficult to solve.
        So I repeat, we know that today, in the United States, there is a
    campaign ongoing. We're familiar with the programs of the two main
    candidates. And if these programs are implemented, and there it says,
    for instance, the necessity to positively improve relations between
    Russia and the United States, the time that Mr. Clinton is going to pass
    on to the next President, no matter who gets to be President, we're
    willing to go forward on either one of these approaches.
        Thank you.
        President Clinton.  Well, let me say first, I think President Putin
    has an enormous opportunity and a great challenge. If you want to know
    what my personal assessment is, I think he is fully capable of building
    a prosperous, strong Russia, while preserving freedom and pluralism and
    the rule of law. It's a big challenge. I think he is fully capable of
    doing it.
        And I want to use the time I have remaining as President not only to
    further the interests of the United States in meeting our national
    security threat but also to further our interest in having a good,
    stable relationship with a Russia that is strong and prosperous and
    free, respecting pluralism and the rule of law. That's what I'm trying
    to do. I think he is fully capable of achieving that. And I'm encouraged
    by the first 2 days of our really serious work.

     Note:  The President's 191st news conference began at 6:55 p.m. in St.
    George's Hall in the Kremlin. In his remarks, he referred to former
    President Boris Yeltsin and current Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov of
    Russia. President Putin and some reporters spoke in Russian, and their
    remarks were translated by an interpreter.