Financial Times - 05.22.2002

 

The Financial Times

Prospect of New Russian Ties Dominates Bush Trip

By Richard Wolffe

President George W. Bush flies to Germany today at the start of a six-day trip to Europe that will focus on international security. But it is the president's three-day stay in Russia - and the prospect of establishing a new relationship with Russia - that dominates his European tour. President Bush arrives in Moscow tomorrow, where he will first sign the landmark strategic nuclear weapons treaty with President Vladimir Putin. The treaty's headline reductions in deployed nuclear weapons are dramatic - a fall of around two-thirds to less than 2,200 by 2012 - although any number of warheads may be held in reserve. However, the White House is placing even greater emphasis on broader ties with Russia, including a political statement detailing the scope and aims of the new US-Russia relationship. That statement is expected to focus on how to stop the proliferation of Russia's nuclear, chemical and biological arms technologies. In particular, the White House is increasingly concerned with Russia's nuclear and arms relationship with Iran, one of three nations forming what Mr Bush has called "an axis of evil" states promoting terrorism and pursuing weapons of mass destruction. Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, said the White House was troubled by Russia's construction of nuclear plants in Iran, as well as its supply of conventional weapons to the Iranians. Administration officials suggest that Iran could divert nuclear materials to military production. "The president intends to talk a lot about the Russian-Iranian relationship," she told reporters at the White House. "It's been a problem for several years. We intend to keep pressing that agenda." Alongside a pledge to maintain counter-terrorism operations, the two sides will produce a detailed agreement on economic ties - a priority for the Russian president since he first met Mr Bush last year. In Germany, before he arrives in Russia, Mr Bush will focus on the new US-Russian relationship with a speech to a special session of the Bundestag. In Italy, after his talks with Mr Putin, he will sign the Nato-Russia agreement establishing a new partnership between the former cold war enemies. For European allies, Mr Bush's trip will offer an opportunity to voice their strong opposition to a series of US trade policies, including new farm subsidies and the imposition of tariffs on steel imports. However, administration officials suggest that any European criticism of the US commitment to free trade is likely to get short shrift. Robert Zoellick, US trade representative, said yesterday: "Sanctimoniousness is a posture, not a policy, and I don't think it's going to serve Europe's interests."