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CNN Live Today

U.S., Russia Want Less Warheads

Aired April 29, 2002 - 12:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on his way back to Washington at this hour, after a rather extensive tour that included Afghanistan and neighboring countries there. The trip wrapped up today earlier in Moscow. Our Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty joins us live with more on the trip. It wasn't a long one, but significant nonetheless. Jill, good evening to you.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Good evening, good morning, good afternoon, Bill. It was a brief stay here in Moscow actually, only about four hours and they spent it at the airport, outside of Moscow. A working lunch with his counterpart, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, and the main topic of conversation was arms control.

Both sides want to cut the number of arms and warheads that they have; the Russians down to 1,500, the Americans down to about 1,700, 2,200. But the question is how to do it and there have been sticking points. Today Secretary Ivanov says that there has been some progress. In fact, he said that Russia, over the past four to five days has given the United States what he calls some new ideas that might be able to clench this deal, clench it in time for the summit that's coming up in three weeks, a little bit over three weeks. But Secretary Rumsfeld says that the relationship between the United States and Russia is broader than arms control.

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DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: It is evolving in a way that the discussions we have today are not simply about arms control, but rather it's a multi-faceted relationship that involves political and economic as well as security issues.

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DOUGHERTY: And that's what many here in Russia would like to hear, a broader relationship that would include the end to some, what they consider, discriminatory Cold War trade restrictions. That's what they want and in three weeks, we'll find out whether they get it. Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Jill, thanks. Jill Dougherty again reporting live from Moscow, thank you Jill.

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