Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : S. Ryabkov
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Consideration of the treaty in the Senate took a
long time and that did not come as a surprise. There
was only a certain measure of concern when some
U.S. politicians, including current senators, sought
not only to interpret anew some of the treaty pro-
visions but also to amend its text. Fortunately, that
did not happen and one should give credit to the
Obama administration that had mobilized its entire
political resources to convince those in doubt and
opponents about the importance of the document
and its necessity from the point of view of U.S. national security interests. Significant forces were
involved in that work: former U.S. state secretaries, secretaries of defense, and national security
advisers. Moreover, not only from Democratic but also from Republican administrations.
This is a serious result that enabled the Russian side - at the level of the Russian president and
foreign minister - to make a positive assessment of the U.S. senators' decision immediately after
the Senate passed its ratification resolution. Now it is the matter of interpretation because the
text contains some wording that is open to interpretation. But it is precisely the essence of diplo-
macy to move further on the basis of what has been achieved. There can be different interpreta-
tions but it is important simply to search for a common denominator on these disputable matters.
Amid the qualitative and quantitative buildup of U.S. missile defense systems, the future of the
START-IN treaty as such could be uncertain.
This year we have some serious tasks related to Russia's accession to the WTO. Incidentally, the
U.S. administration approaches this task in a very responsible manner, understanding its impor-
tance and trying to help us. The ratification by the U.S. Congress last year of an agreement on co-
operation with Russia in the peaceful use of atomic energy went almost unnoticed. We have
already completed the process of putting this document into force through an exchange of official
notes. For many years, the absence of such a treaty has prevented us from establishing ties in this
area of cooperation with the United States that is so important in all respects, including the in-
novative one.
Last year, a new economic agenda was introduced in bilateral ties; there were numerous visits and
contacts between U.S. venture firms and our innovation companies.
We believe that there is still a large number of untapped opportunities. At the same time our de-
fense, security, law enforcement and other concerned agencies are working along these lines. There
are matters related to the strengthening of borders and helping our allies improve their ability to
control their own borders. Finally, it is a subject for direct dialogue with the United States and
other ISAF participants.
Электронное приложение к журналу «
Международная жизнь
»
Russia-U.S.: New START, Missile Defense and More