[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 43 (Monday, October 29, 2001)]
[Pages 1532-1536]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

[[Page 1533]]

    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 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

[[Page 1534]]

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.
    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.

[[Page 1535]]

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 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

[[Page 1536]]

cooperate. It's also a treaty 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.