Close to agreements

Hillary Clinton is exploring ways to cooperate with Russia

Today in Geneva, Russian-American negotiations are resuming on the preparation of a new treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms (START). Speaking on January 29 in Paris at the military academy, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the parties were “close to agreements.” This information was confirmed at the end of last week by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko. He recalled the January 27 telephone conversation between Russian and US Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, who agreed to instruct the delegations to complete agreement on the “technical details” of the new treaty in the near future. “In accordance with the instructions of the presidents, continuous intensive work is being carried out,” the Russian diplomat emphasized.

Hillary Clinton confirmed that the United States is ready to cooperate with Russia on the creation of a missile defense system in Europe. As for Dmitry Medvedev’s initiative to conclude a new treaty on European security, then, according to Mrs. Secretary of State, the preparation of such a document may turn out to be “long and complex.” She believes that security on the continent should be ensured within the framework of the OSCE and the Russia-NATO Council, as well as paying more attention to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), the exchange of military information and ensuring mutual access to military facilities: “We are exploring ways cooperation with Russia in such a way as to strengthen the security of all of Europe, including Russia.”

While in Paris, the US Secretary of State gave an interview to the Voice of America. She emphasized that the North Atlantic Alliance is “interested in close cooperation with Russia.” In addition, Moscow supposedly does not have to fear further NATO expansion, since countries seeking to join this organization “join a group of nations that are working together to strengthen security.” The Secretary of State believes that Russia even benefits from the expansion of the alliance, because “it will not have to worry about its Western neighbors.”

The United States intends to actively cooperate with Russia to introduce new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend nuclear development. Hillary Clinton discussed this topic in Paris with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. He said that France and the United States are “satisfied” with the Russian side’s position on sanctions. The Secretary of State explained that the international community is “moving away from the path of dialogue” with Iran, which “did not produce the expected results,” and is “moving along the path of sanctions.”

Boris KAIMAKOV