#7
BBC Monitoring
Secretary of state Powell says Russia, USA working together on Iraq
Source: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 0444 gmt 15 May 03

US Secretary of State Colin Powell told an independent Russian radio station that Russia and the United States had disagreed on Iraq but were now working together to draft a UN Security Council resolution that would make life better for Iraqis and to resolve the issue of Iraq's debts. Powell said that President Vladimir Putin was concerned to make sure that Iran did not develop nuclear weapons. These issues and others such as Afghanistan and lifting US trade restrictions against Russian goods would be on the agenda at the Bush-Putin summit in St Petersburg in late May, Powell said. Powell's remarks in English were rendered into Russian in consecutive interpretation. The following is the text of the interview broadcast live on Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 15 May; subheadings added editorially:

[Presenter Aleksey Venediktov, editor-in-chief of Ekho Moskvy Radio] US Secretary of State Colin Powell is our guest today. Good morning!

[Powell] Good morning, how are you?

[Presenter] We are fine. Especially if you tell us what happened during your talks with Mr Putin. Our colleagues keep saying that this was not a successful part of your visit and that you did not reach an agreement.

So, was it a success or not?

US, Russia "working together" to agree resolution on Iraq

[Powell, speaking in English after listening to the translation] It was very successful. President Putin and I had a chance to review all of the bilateral issues that exist between the United States and Russia and to talk about regional issues.

Although we had a disagreement over the war in Iraq, we are now working together to try to find agreement on a new resolution before the United Nations.

In this regard, we are unified in trying to find the resolution that will help the Iraqi people to a better life.

[Presenter] I have a question regarding this. Is it necessary to adopt a new resolution for the sanctions to be lifted?

[Powell] We believe it is because the sanctions were imposed by the United Nations and so it is appropriate to take the issue back to the United Nations in order for the sanctions to be lifted so that we can begin to market oil that would provide revenue for the Iraqi people. If we don't get the sanctions lifted, there may be some legal problems with respect to the marketing of oil. We make it clear, however, that the sale of oil is strictly for the purpose of benefiting the Iraqi people.

There might be other ways to do it but the neatest way, the easiest, the best way to do it is to let the international community deal with the problem with sanctions and lift them by a UN resolution.

[Presenter] Thus, President Putin has not promised you a veto?

[Powell] No, we did not have to talk about that because we are working with the Russian side to satisfy their concern. What we are looking for is a UN resolution that everybody can agree to in this Security Council because it's a resolution that will help the Iraqi people. So the issue of veto or extension or voting - that was not an issue yesterday. Yesterday we discussed the specific elements of a resolution that the Russian side are interested in.

This is a typical diplomatic action. One side, one of the members puts down a resolution. And then it is debated, other points of view are held, and we negotiate a resolution that hopefully everybody can agree to.

And I was impressed by the spirit of cooperation shown by President Putin and by Foreign Minister [Igor] Ivanov.

And we are approaching it with that same spirit of cooperation.

USA still looking for Iraqi mass destruction weapons

[Presenter] I have already said that in the Russian language the word diplomat has some negative connotations. It often means a person who never says the whole truth. On the other hand, when we are talking about the military, we understand that they are always honest and always talk straight to the point, which reminds me that you are a four-star general.

And here is a question from one of our listeners on the Internet - Dmitriy from Moscow: What was in that little container which you displayed at the UN Security Council session?

[Powell] The container that I showed was a simulant; it was not actually a nerve agent. I would never have brought anything dangerous into the UN. It was a simulation of the kind of biological and chemical agents that we knew the Iraqis were developing. And it was to illustrate how dangerous that amount of material could be if it was real. And the Iraqis had not accounted for tonnes and tonnes of such materials. Diplomats can tell the truth just as easily as generals.

[Presenter] So, as our listener Sergey asks, where are the Iraqi mass destruction weapons? Have you found them?

[Powell] We are still looking. We have many hundreds of soldiers and experts who are looking at all of the different sites throughout Iraq to locate the weapons of mass destruction. We have found some trailers that contained equipment inside of them, that looked like the material I presented at the United Nations, but we want to make absolutely sure. So those trailers, those mobile vans that we have found, are undergoing the most intense analysis now.

Even the Iraqis themselves admitted that they have done all of these things and that they had these programmes, and when the UN passed its resolution, it was with the understanding that Iraq did have such programmes. The programmes had been established by previous inspection regimes, but Iraq had not accounted for the disposition of these programmes, or what they had remaining.

[Presenter] Do you think you will find this weapon?

[Powell] Yes.

USA anxious for Russia to provide support to efforts in Iraq

[Presenter] Another question by a listener via the Internet. He says his name is Vladimir Putin and he is calling from St Petersburg and Moscow, or that's what the Internet says. So the question is: Mr Secretary of State, would you welcome the participation of Russia's peacekeepers in Iraq?

[Powell] Well, it's up for Russia to decide how best they can support. We're anxious for the Russian Federation to provide support to our efforts in Iraq. I don't know if peacekeeping troops would exactly be the appropriate contribution but I think that a financial contribution, and a contribution of humanitarian aid, a contribution of hospital support and medical supplies - all of that would be welcome. So we'll be in touch with our Russian colleagues to see what would be appropriate for the Russian Federation to provide for the humanitarian activities in Iraq and for the reconstruction of Iraq.

[Presenter] You answered just now as a diplomat. Can you now answer as a general?

[Powell] I'm a diplomat. As a general, I will leave this matter to the generals. Because right now the coalition military forces are examining what their military needs on the ground are. Different countries are examining what contribution they can make. Peacekeeping zones are being established. The Polish are going to be responsible for one of the zones, and the British for another part of the zone and the United States for another part of the zone, and contributions are being solicited but I will leave it to my military colleagues to determine what the specific needs are and from what countries.

[Presenter] I would like to ask our listeners the following question. We can conduct the following poll by Internet and telephone during the next three minutes. I would like to ask the following question: Do our listeners consider the USA more an ally than an adversary? And you will comment on the result. So I address our listeners.

[Powell] Can I make a comment before the poll?

[Presenter] So you want to exert influence on the poll? Okay, go ahead, you are welcome. I give you one minute.

USA working to help Russia gain WTO membership

[Powell] The United States and Russia are partners. We have been working on many things together. We have just completed ratification of the treaty that will reduce the number of strategic weapons that both sides hold. We have a very vigorous exchange of ministers - our agriculture minister, our energy minister, all our commerce experts are coming here to work with the Russian side on improving trade. We are working on the WTO, on how to help Russia come into the WTO.

[Presenter] Sorry, allow me just to announce the telephone numbers for listeners wanting to vote in the poll, and then I'll let you continue. So, voting has started on the question: if you think the USA is more like an ally for Russia, call number 9958121; if you think it is more likely to be an enemy, call 9958122. Please, vote now.

And so, the voting has started. Mr secretary of state, as you can see that 100 people have already voted within these 30 seconds on whether the USA is a friend or foe. So, once again, please cast your votes. You have two minutes to vote.

And I am counting your vote on the ally side, naturally.

[Powell] Count my vote as number one.

Putin is a "good friend of President Bush"

[Venediktov] But I would like you to answer a question from our listener Khundzhou from Moscow. What would be your answer today to the old question: who is Mr Putin?. This question was asked by an American journalist three years ago.

[Powell] Mr Putin? Yes, Mr Putin is of course the distinguished president of the Russian Federation. He is a good friend of President Bush; they have a very solid relationship. He is a man who understands the importance of having a good relationship with the United States and has worked toward that end. A man who understands the need for better trade relations and a better strategic relationship between the two [countries] and a president who understands that we need to cooperate on a number of global issues, such as fighting drugs, fighting terrorism, those kinds of issues.

[Venediktov] Our voting continues. We have one minute left. Two thousand people have already phoned us. I repeat our numbers again [reads out telephone numbers]. Colin Powell will comment on the results in a live broadcast. He is watching the vote on the screen now.

[Powell, joking] Can I vote once more?

Powell: new Iraq government will take fully into account obligations to Russia

[Venediktov, laughing] No, I am afraid not. Secretary of State. Tomorrow this interview will be published in full by Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper. We now have a question from our colleagues from Rossiyskaya Gazeta. They ask what do you think about the 8bn-dollar debt of Iraq to Russia. What sort of solution to this problem do you envisage and did you discuss this matter with President Putin or Foreign Minister Ivanov?

[Powell] We did not discuss it yesterday, but I am well aware of the issue because I have discussed it previously with Foreign Minister Ivanov. We estimate that Iraq owes to countries around the world roughly 100-120bn dollar-worth of debt, of which 8bn dollars is in debt to Russia. And as we move forward, we expect that we will have to examine this debt to find out how best to deal with it - either by stretching it out, refinancing it. I am sure the new Iraqi government will take fully into account its obligations to the Russian Federation.

USA, Russia sharing concerns about Iran

[Venediktov] Our voting is coming to end. You see that we have had over 4,000 votes. You have 30 seconds to finish the vote.

And now we have one more question which we just received from our colleague Slava Terekhov from Interfax. The USA is now talking about Iran having mass destruction weapons. Is this a move to prepare public opinion for the deployment of American troops in Iran?

[Powell] No. We are concerned about what Iran is doing and we have shared our concern with our Russian friends, and we believe Russia also has some concerns. And we will work with the international community to persuade Iran that they should not move in this direction. We do not need any more weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, in this part of the world. But it is not a matter for the armed forces of the United States at the moment.

[Venediktov] Does President Putin share your concern about the possibility of Iran having nuclear weapons? Or does he not share such concerns?

[Powell] Yes, he does, and we discussed it yesterday. That is, the nuclear development - not weapons, but the programme that could lead to that. Neither the United States, nor the Russian Federation would like to see a programme that goes in the direction of the development of nuclear weapons in Iran.

Russia, USA are two democracies with different views on some issues

[Venediktov] Mr Powell, just a few quick questions, since you have to go shortly. We have received many questions on why the American troops failed to prevent the looting of Iraqi museums and historical heritage? Was it a mistake? Were any orders to that effect issued at all? The whole thing made an awful impression here.

[Powell] Our troops were involved in fighting battles, and they could not be everywhere at once. It turns out there was not as much looting as was suggested. Many of the items had been put in other places for safekeeping and many of the items are now coming back. There are some things missing, but it is nowhere near the catastrophe that it was originally believed to be. And we are working with agencies around the world to recover any items that might show up in the antiquities market.

[Venediktov] The last two questions. We in Russia are very serious about war. We lost 26 million people in World War II. Any war brings out negative feelings in us, and you must understand that. Was your own family in any way affected by that war?

[Powell] I was a young boy during the Second World War, five-six-seven years old. But it was very vivid in my mind. Many of my uncles went to the war. We know what war is, too. And I have vivid memories of the Russian sacrifices of that time during your Great Patriotic War. I have a very vivid memory in 1945, when the war was over, of how the United States and at that time the Soviet Union were bound together as friends and allies.

And then as a soldier, I watched how we descended into the Cold War for over 40 years. At the end of my military career, I watched the Cold War go away with pleasure. And now I am honoured toward the end of my active life to see the United States and the Russian Federation once again partners and friends working together for the cause of peace, as we once did in the 1940's during the period of the war very briefly.

[Venediktov] We now have the results of our voting and I am asking you to comment on them. So the last question is the comment on our judgment. We had 4,882 calls in four minutes. Out of these, 63 per cent believe that the USA is more of an ally and 37 see it as more of an enemy. Now, your comment.

[Powell] I am very pleased with that, and I think that when people study the relationship between the United States and Russia and see how it is progressing, the 63 will go up even higher, because we are partners and we are working together. We are two democracies that have different points of view on different issues. We will debate those points of view, but I think we have so much in common that it should be clear to all the Americans and all the Russians that the United States and Russia are friends and partners.

Trade, space, regional issues on agenda for Bush-Putin summit in St Petersburg

[Venediktov] The last question is: what do you expect from the meeting of President Bush and President Putin in St Petersburg? Will it be just a formal protocol event, or are there going to be some discussions of great content?

[Powell] No, President Putin and I discussed this yesterday. There is too much work to be done for this to be just a protocol occasion. And I am sure they will talk about trade issues, and they will talk about the issues relating to space cooperation. They will discuss regional issues - Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan.

[Venediktov] The Jackson-Vanik amendment?

[Powell] Yes, the Jackson-Vanik amendment. I am sure they will discuss that, too. We want to get rid of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, and the president [Bush] is committed to that. It is something left over from the past and we are still working with our Congress. It is a difficult political issue, but the president is determined to pursue the repeal of Jackson-Vanik. Every time our two presidents get together, there is always an expression of good will, but work is always conducted: it is never just protocol. President Bush is looking very much forward to returning to St Petersburg and meeting with President Putin.

[Venediktov] Secretary of State, thank you very much. That was US Secretary of State Colin Powell talking live to Ekho Moskvy.

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