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US Department of State
03 June 2002
State Department's Haass Outlines U.S.-Russia Agenda
(June 1: Amb. Richard Haass at Rand Business Leaders Forum)
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The United States is "moving on a broad agenda of engagement with Russia," the State Department's Richard Haass told the RAND Business Leaders Forum June 1.

"Russia can be a critical partner in building security and stability in the regions it borders -- Europe, Central Asia, and the Far East," and it is a "necessary partner" in addressing transnational and global challenges such as terrorism, proliferation, HIV/AIDS and environmental degradation, said Ambassador Haass, director of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff.

Last year Presidents Bush and Vladimir Putin "announced their intention to shape a new U.S.-Russia relationship. The Moscow summit shows we are moving out in the direction the Presidents laid down," he said.

After recounting the achievements of the May 24 summit -- including the signing of a strategic offensive reductions treaty -- Haass said the United States and Russia have "an opportunity to do even more together."

"Indeed, the most important and challenging task at this stage is to define a long-term positive agenda for the bilateral relationship. It has to be about more than eliminating old Cold War threats and fighting terrorism, important as those are. The relationship must be based on new opportunities for cooperation," he said.

Among the new opportunities he cited:

- Energy: "There are opportunities for Western investment and joint ventures with Russian companies to improve oilfield recovery rates in Russia and to engage in joint ventures in third countries."

- Economic development of the Russian Far East: "In addition to benefiting Russia, a revival there would have positive reverberations in China, Korea and Japan."

- Central Asia: "Assuring Russia a prominent role in the economic reconstruction of this region could go a long way towards alleviating Moscow's concerns about the growing U.S. military presence there."

Haass also spoke of the United States, Europe and Russia jointly addressing "the large and demanding multilateral agenda that extends beyond Europe," including "managing regional crises such as those in the Middle East and South Asia; tackling transnational challenges such as HIV/AIDS, drugs, and human trafficking; cooperating in the field of bioterrorism and biodefense; addressing the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them, including joint work on theater missile defenses; and strengthening institutions in Europe and Asia that promote political stability and economic prosperity."

He acknowledged there will also be differences to manage "in areas such as trade, non-proliferation policy, human rights, and Chechnya.... Among the most difficult issues are Iraq and its weapons programs, Iran, and North Korea." But he added that "the ability to discuss and exchange views should be better now than it has been for a very long time."

Russia also needs "to complete its transformation into a democratic, market-oriented state," Haass said. "Nothing is more important. Russian leaders must recognize that this is the key to Russian prosperity, and to continued integration with the West and with international political and economic institutions."

While pointing out that "Russia also has work to do to overcome the enduring legacy of distrust and suspicion that exists in Europe," Haass also said that "Europeans who view Russia as though it were still the Soviet Union risk missing the historic opportunity to facilitate Russia's continued integration into Western norms and values."

He concluded by observing that, although it will take "hard and sustained effort" to make the U.S.-Russian relationship work, "there is no structural reason" the two countries can't have good relations. The United States should make the economic and commercial aspect of the relationship a high priority. Haass also called for improving the "quality of consultations" with Russia.

"When either Americans or Europeans are about to make decisions that have an impact on Russia or the relationship, they owe it to Russia to consult in advance, not simply announce a decision after the fact. That does not mean Russia will have a veto, but it does mean decisions will be made with full knowledge of the impact on the relationship. And, we expect our Russian partner to do likewise," Haass said.

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