U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a press conference after their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2009. The United States and Russia intend to reach a new arms control agreement by the end of this year to replace the current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II), Hillary Clinton said here on Friday. (Chinese media/Yang Jingde)
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BEIJING, March 6 (Chinese media) -- Just one day after NATO
members agreed to resume formal talks with Russia, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton will meet on Friday with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov
in Geneva, Switzerland in an effort to reset the relationship.
The move again signals the willingness of both sides
to mend their stalemated relations. It is believed that less rivalry but more
dialogue will dominate U.S.-Russia relations in the future. But tough questions
still lie ahead for the pair.
Relations between Moscow and Washington have
deteriorated to a post-Cold War low due to the missile defense plans of the
U.S., Russia's brief war with Georgia last August, and NATO's eastward
expansion.
Tensions have eased since Barack Obama was sworn in
as U.S. President in January.
In the first major foreign policy address by the
Obama administration in Munich last month, Vice President Joe Biden delivered a
strong signal to mend relations with Russia, saying "it's time to press the
reset button," which was welcomed by the Kremlin.
On Tuesday, Obama stressed that Washington needs to
"reset and reboot" the U.S.-Russia relationship.
"My hope is that we can have a constructive
relationship where, based on common respect and mutual interest, we can move
forward," he said.
Of similar view, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
said "it is important, because we want good relations with the USA, it was
always our posture. I hope that the positive signals we're receiving from
Washington will translate into agreements."
In reference to U.S.-Russia relations, geo-political
strategist, Zbigniew Brzezinski, has said that Washington needs to "introduce"
Russia into a system dominated by the United States and its European allies so
that it could play a constructive role instead of posing potential threats.
On Thursday, Clinton said that Washington and Moscow
"can and must cooperate" on non-proliferation, arms control, anti-terrorism, and
anti-piracy efforts, and in other areas.
"Dialogue with Russia has the potential of easing
tensions and solving problems," she said.
A significant move by Obama was that he offered a
deal with Russia on Iran's weapons program.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Obama
sent a letter to Medvedev three weeks ago, offering a secret deal suggesting
Washington would not need to proceed with the anti-missile systems in Eastern
Europe, if Moscow helps stop Iran from developing nuclear warheads and ballistic
missiles.
However, the Kremlin dismissed Obama's idea that was
seeking a trade-off between Iran and missile defense. Medvedev said on Tuesday
that Russia would not be involved in any deal to dissuade the United States from
installing the system near its borders.
The contentious issue of missile defense remains the
biggest challenge to bilateral relations. Analysts have cautioned that improper
management of it might trigger another "Cuban missile crisis" in post-Cold War
time.
Other issues concerning Afghanistan, Georgia and
Ukraine also pose challenges to U.S.-Russia relations.
Medvedev said his country was keen to continue its
role in the fight against extremism and in increasing cooperation with Western
countries.
The United States needs Russian help in providing
alternative supply routes as the Pentagon is considering plans to nearly double
the size of its military presence in Afghanistan.
As far as Georgia and Ukraine are concerned, Clinton
has reiterated Washington's support for and "firm commitment" to Georgia and
Ukraine to move toward NATO membership, stressing that "we support the rights of
sovereign nations to make their own decisions."
However, Russia is concerned that NATO is trying to
bring Ukraine and Georgia into the military bloc.
It is obviously not easy for Russia to change its
position on these issues as Washington is trying to bridge divisions and seek
cooperation.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said that
if the Obama administration changes its policies toward Russia, Moscow will
quickly respond.
Clinton said "we pursue it with our eyes wide open,"
which carries a foreshadow of political wrestling ahead between the pair.
Clinton voices support for reenergizing NATO-Russia formal
talks
BRUSSELS, March 5 (Chinese media) -- U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on Thursday voiced her strong support for reenergizing
NATO-Russia formal talks, and underlined the principle of seeking close
cooperation on issues where are common interests while acknowledging
differences.
"There are benefits to reenergize the NATO-Russia Council,
just as there are potential benefits in discussion that I will begin with
(Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov tomorrow in Geneva tomorrow," said
Clinton at a press conference at the conclusion of the NATO foreign ministers'
meeting in Brussels.Full story
NATO agrees to restart direct talks
with Russia
BRUSSELS, March 5 (Chinese media) -- NATO foreign ministers
agreed on Thursday to resume formal political contacts with Russia after they
were frozen for seven months, said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
"Ministers reached agreement to formally resume the
NATO-Russia Council, including at ministerial level, as soon as possible after
the (NATO) summit in Strasbourg and Kehl (on April 3)," de Hoop Scheffer told
reporters. Full story
Obama vows to reboot relations with Russia
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Chinese media) -- U.S. President Barack
Obama on Tuesday dismissed a report saying he has offered a deal with Russia on
Iran's weapon program, but stressed that Washington needs to reset and reboot
the U.S.- Russia relationship.
"I think that the report that was in the New York Times
didn't accurately characterize the letter," Obama told reporters in the White
House alongside visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Full story
Medvedev wants good relations with U.S. for common
benefit
MADRID, March 3 (Chinese media) -- Visiting Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev said here Tuesday during his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister
Jose Luis Zapatero that Russia wants good relations with the United States.
Speaking to reporters in the Palacio Moncloa in Madrid
about possibilities of negotiating with the United States over the proposed
"anti-missile shield" proposed by the Bush administration, Medvedev was positive
about the attitude of President Barack Obama, but stopped short of saying what
talks would take place. Full story
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