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Powell says Russian base closures mark end of 'post-Cold War era'

SHANGHAI, Oct 18 (AFP) -
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that Russia's decision to close military bases in former Soviet satellites Cuba and Vietnam marked the end of the "post-Cold War" era and a recognition of 21st-century threats such as terrorism.

"Not only is the Cold War over, the post-Cold War period is also over," Powell said of Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement on Wednesday that Moscow would shut its Lourdes listening post in Cuba and its naval base in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

Powell's comments to a group of US business leaders went beyond those made by President George W. Bush, who on Wednesday called the closure of the Lourdes facility "another indication that the Cold War is over".

"President Putin understands that Russia and America are no longer adversaries; we do not judge our successes by how much it complicates life for the other country," Bush said.

Putin, who said his decision was based on financial concerns, will meet Bush here on Sunday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit.

Powell said he was hopeful the base closures indicated Moscow's willingness to engage Washington in a new strategic dialogue that would include dropping opposition to US plans to deploy a national missile defense (NMD) system.

"It's a part a new strategic opportunity to work with Russia," Powell said.

Washington and Moscow are at odds over Bush's plans for NMD, which Russia vehemently opposes and is currently barred under the 1972 anti-ballistic missile (ABM) treaty.

The United States has proposed replacing the treaty, which it calls a Cold War relic, but Russia has objected, leading Washington to threaten a unilateral withdrawal from the pact.

US officials say NMD is needed to counter missile threats from so-called "rogue states" such as North Korea and Iraq, but Moscow says the system would lead to a destabilizing arms race.

Powell said Putin's move showed that Russia was willing to move forward in countering new threats and warned that if countries like Iraq and North Korea, which are both deemed "sponsors of terrorism" by the United States, did not change their ways, they would suffer.

Countries that are "transfixed in some past life will find themselves being left further and further behind," he said.

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