By Liao Lei, Xinhua
Moscow : Showing his broken arm, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denied he is a difficult negotiator in the 2-plus-2 talks with Russian counterparts, but the talks held in Moscow were seen as tough with no breakthrough on a planned U.S. missile shield in Central Europe.
No missile shield compromise
“The United States reaffirmed its willingness to set up its third missile shield in Europe … Russia, however, does not agree with this intention and has put forward an alternative that was originally put forward by President Vladimir Putin,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference after the one-day talks.
The proposed third U.S. missile shield consists of interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of its efforts to extend its missile defense system to Europe.
Moscow has fiercely opposed the plan, saying it poses a threat to its security, while Washington said the system is targeting forces in the Middle East that are seeking weapons of mass destruction.
The Kremlin proposed to share one of its radar stations in Azerbaijan last year, a suggestion given little attention by the White House.
The first round of the 2-plus-2 talks, between both nations’ foreign and defense ministers, held in Moscow last October also failed to reach agreements on the shield that has soured bilateral ties since it was tabled last year.
Analysts believe that Moscow is waiting for a shift of ideas or at least a change of manner when the next U.S. administration takes office next year, but the two sides have pledged to continue negotiations.
“The problem is how to select and to separate the real problems from the imaginary problems and how to work on these real problems,” said Viktor Kremenyuk, an expert with the Institute of the USA and Canada of the Russian Academy of Science.
“Both sides simply have no other choice but to make a breakthrough,” Kremenyuk told an interview with the Russia-Today TV channel.
Yes to next President’s ties
Dmitry Medvedev, 42, is to move into the Kremlin presidential office as the youngest-ever Russian president since its independence after winning a landslide victory in the March 2 election, while the White House will also receive a new president next year.
The visits are to ensure “a firm foundation for continuity and change in bilateral relations … there are no problems that can be solved in a better way unless the United States and Russia work together,” said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in her meeting with Medvedev on Monday.
Commenting on U.S.-Russia ties, Rice said they are “complex.”
“The relationship is proceeding in a way that we are able to go forward in very serious cooperation and when we have differences we can talk about them in an atmosphere of mutual respect,” she told a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Washington also proposed a document of strategic framework.
“We had a productive and useful discussion today. We have agreed that there should be a joint strategic framework document for the presidents to be able to record all the elements of the U.S.-Russia relationship that are put forward in the future,” Rice said.
Lavrov, however, denied an early reply on that, saying he will report to the president.
“We agreed that the work we are doing and will be doing is important to ensure continuity in Russia-U.S. relations, especially in the period when we will see the constitutional transfer of power in both countries,” said the top Russian diplomat.
Analysts believe that Russia-U.S. relations are highly vulnerable and maybe become a victim of verbal attack from any side at any time. But common ground also exists between the former Cold War rivals.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the United States decided it was to be the only engine (of the world), and under the umbrella of the spread of liberty and democracy it would preserve its security. It did not happen. Now the United States and Russia understand that something needs to be done,” said Vladimir Sizov, political expert with the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The change of presidency in each country “always opens new possibilities” for development of bilateral relations, Kremenyuk said, expecting the two states to sit down and work out a sensible agreement on bilateral ties.
However, there is still a long way to go.
“The aspiration of certain political forces to act in line with the political and psychological mindset of ‘deterring’ Russia has asserted itself in European policy and the CIS territories,” said a report published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website on Tuesday, warning that crises will persist in world politics, particularly in Europe.