Issue Focus Report - 05.24.2002

 

 

International Information Programs

U.S. Department of State

 

Russian Media React to Bush Visit

Russian media split over the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaty's impact: government, centrist and reformist were optimistic, while business and military were more pessimistic.

"Landmark Visit"

Tatyana Malkina said on page one of reformist Vremya Novostey (5/24): "The Bush visit is a landmark as long as, according to Russian diplomats, it signifies a qualitatively new stage of rapprochement between the two countries.  The 'treaty on strategic offensive reductions,' which is to be signed in the Kremlin today, is graphic proof....  The treaty, a courteous gesture of recognition on the Americans' part, is a victory (for Russia).  Other than that, there is almost no gain or harm in it for either side....  Most importantly, this summit is not about 'partnership for peace.'  It is about 'peace for partnership' or simply friendship."

"Treaty Good For All"

Vladimir Lukin remarked in official government Rossiyskaya Gazeta (5/24): "The accords to be signed are more like the Americans' concession, if at all....  The treaty (on arms reductions) is good for both countries because it makes it possible to dispose of the cumbersome and dangerous legacy of the Cold War and an enormous amount of weaponry."

"Washington Views Moscow As An Equal Partner"

Sergey Rogov stated in centrist Nezavisimaya Gazeta (5/24):  "That Washington recognizes Moscow (not Beijing, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris or London) as an equal partner in the nuclear sphere goes to show that there is no writing off Russia on global strategic issues.  The new treaty, no doubt, will enhance Russia's stature with regard to the United States, as well as other powerhouses....   For all its obvious faults, the new treaty will make Russo-American strategic relations sufficiently predictable and stable in the next decade....  The new Russia-NATO Council, if taken seriously by all sides, may gradually become a real mechanism to help make joint decisions on international security, war on terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction....  WTO membership, the restructuring of foreign debts and other issues related to trade and economic cooperation are even more important than the classical agenda on arms control."

"Bush Deceives Putin"

Konstantin Smirnov charged in reformist business-oriented Kommersant (5/24): "George Bush has deceived Vladimir Putin by having failed to get the U.S. Congress to lift the Jackson-Vanik amendment....  The Democrats in Congress did that to protect U.S. farmers who supply poultry to Russia.  Doing away with the Jackson-Vanik amendment would have become a highlight, a major economic result of the summit.  Recognizing Russia as a market economy would have been another.  As George Bush hasn't kept his promise (he might have been quite sincere about it), the companies that don't want their Russian competitors to prevail in the market are celebrating a victory."

"Bush Ready To Forgive Ex-USSR's  Debt"

Reformist Gazeta claimed (5/24) in a page-one editorial:  "George Bush is ready to forgive the ex-USSR's debt to America and offer $10 billion in return for Russia's severing 'nuclear' ties with Iran.  This is a 'friendly' gift for Putin, and so is the treaty on nuclear arms reductions."

"Russia Is Not Among America's Priorities"

Gennadiy Gerasimov, writing in reformist Vremya MN (5/23), compared "the Moscow summit to the Cape of Good Hope."  Gerasimov said:  "As world politics, going around the Cape, prepares to make a historic turn, it faces 'details and routine' lying further down the road.  A declaration on a new strategic relationship, possibly, is the most important thing that may happen after the summit.  America has four foreign policy priorities--terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, oil, and China.  Russia is not among them.  Russia may become a partner.  As Russia helps America solve its problems, their cooperation will facilitate its historic transition to the West, which was started by Peter the Great."

"The Trojan Horse"

Nationalist, opposition Sovetskaya Rossiya ran this piece (5/23) by Vyacheslav Tetekin: "The Kremlin is thrilled as it looks forward to using the Americans to help it solve the problems it has created through its own incompetence and the recommendations of U.S. 'friends.'  Somehow, the Moscow 'elite' overlooks growing contradictions between the United States and the rest of the world, including its recent allies in Europe.  Blind faith in their Americans' omnipotence threatens to turn the Kremlin into a plaything in their hands....  Bush is coming to Moscow with empty promises, pulling another Trojan horse in his tow."

"Compromise"

Vladimir Urban said on page one of reformist Noviye Izvestiya (5/23): "Moscow and Washington have been insisting all along that the new accords on arms control are, in effect, a compromise that is good to both countries.  Radical nuclear arms reduction, taken by itself, is an accomplishment as far as Russia is concerned.  We simply don't have the money to create new missiles or prolong the service life of old ones....  Moscow can hardly maintain the balance of strategic forces.  Washington sees 'reduction' merely as taking warheads off alert.  If need be, they can easily be put back on the carriers, adding greatly to the nuclear potential.  That is not reflected in the accord to be signed by Vladimir Putin and George Bush, meaning that Russia has virtually acknowledged the United States as a dominant military power.  The Kremlin's analysts fear that the concession to America on the 'nuclear reserve' may encounter ratification problems."

"Many Disarmament Accords Die Early"

Yury Golotyuk commented in reformist Vremya Novostey (5/23): "The Russian Foreign Ministry has explained that the (new) treaty is legally binding and liable to ratification.  That it is binding, no doubt, is a victory for Russian diplomacy....  As for ratification, well... many disarmament accords have died early because the United States has not ratified them.  START II is a case in point....  If the Kremlin's dreams about partnership with America come true, the new treaty will determine not so much the methods of arms reductions as the rules of friendship."

"New Relations Are Relations Between Equals"

Official parliamentary Parlamentskaya Gazeta (5/23) ran this comment by Vitaliy Gan:  "Attempts to sideline Russia now that it is struggling, beset by a host of economic and social problems, have failed....  Obviously, a treaty on nuclear arms reductions is going to be the main result of the upcoming summit....   Russia's accords with the United States and NATO objectively attest to fundamental positive changes in how the sides perceive the reality of the new age."

"Russia, U.S. No Longer Enemies"

Vadim Markushin stated in centrist army Krasnaya Zvezda (5/23): "The United States and Russia have stopped gauging their security by their ability to destroy each other many times.  Even though the concept of nuclear deterrent is still in place, there has never been so much evidence of the two countries entering a qualitatively new stage of peaceful coexistence.  Some use more striking epithets to describe the change, speaking about a 'new era of cooperation and friendship.'  Hopefully, they are right and we will be able to enjoy the fruits of a genuine union with America.  But let's not go into raptures before we see real changes in the most important areas of bilateral ties."