The United States and Russia said on Sunday an accord to slash strategic nuclear arsenals being feverishly prepared for a summit this month was vital to underscore new post-Cold War relations.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking in a video link with a late-night Russian television talk show, expressed confidence that the agreement would be signed when presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush meet on May 23-26.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told participants on ORT public television the deal was "vital" despite reservations by some academics that it ran counter to Moscow's interests.
The two men were speaking as US Undersecretary of State John Bolton flew in to Moscow for a final bid to remove differences before the talks in Moscow and St Petersburg.
"I am encouraged at the progress that has been made," Powell said. "I hope that we will come to an agreement before President Bush arrives in Moscow at the end of next week."
Powell said the accord would mark a new stage in relations between the two states, which as allies in fighting terrorism were "friends and partners, not enemies...The days of the Cold War, the days of mutually assured destruction, are over".
Interfax news agency, in an advance account of Powell's remarks during the 90-minute programme, had quoted him as saying he was sure the document would be signed during the summit.
Both presidents agreed last November at Bush's Texas ranch on the principle of reducing strategic arsenals to between 1,700 and 2,220 for each side from current levels of 6,000 to 7,000.
US, RUSSIAN DIFFERENCES
Differences have centred on methods of counting and on Russian objections to US proposals to store, rather than destroy, warheads removed from weapons.
Russia has also sought references to defensive systems -- meaning US plans for a missile defence system. Moscow has muted its protests to Bush's decision last year to quit the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty to proceed with the scheme.
Ivanov dismissed suggestions by participants in the programme that the deal being worked out failed to meet Moscow's concerns to ensure reductions were real and verifiable.
"We can take the path some people propose - let us have no documents at all...But I think that this path will lead to even more chaos in weapons control," he said.
"Yes, we have disagreements over what to include and so on. But we are stating our goal. We are moving towards reduction rather than increases.
"Therefore, we are about to sign - I would not call it an overly ambitious document - a vital document...and a real one from the standpoint of continuing the process of arms control."
Ivanov said the two sides were still engaged in discussions about whether to call the document an agreement or a treaty. The latter involves tougher US ratification procedures.
"Given the importance of the problem, we believe that it must be a treaty," Ivanov told participants.
Both men discussed Bolton's accusations last week that three more states, Libya, Syria and Cuba, were seeking weapons of mass destruction -- in addition to the "axis of evil" -- Iraq, Iran and North Korea - cited by Bush earlier this year.
Powell said Bolton had said "nothing new". Washington, he said, had no desire to attack anyone, but was right "to point out that these countries are involved in such activities".
Ivanov renewed Russia's commitment to fight terrorism but restated the caution expressed by Russia, which has good ties with Iran, Iraq and other states Washington views with suspicion.
"At the same time we must not identify with terrorism specific religions or peoples or countries," he said. "Clear information must be involved here in order to determine our precise aims and the methods we use to make decisions."
He hoped an agreement would be clinched at this week's talks in Iceland redefining Russia's ties with NATO in a new council. He said the council, replacing a body dating from 1997, would be "not an advisory or consultative body but an executive organ".
(China Daily May 13, 2002)
