Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Secretary of State, Russian Foreign Minister Meet, Discuss Nuclear Policy

Aired May 03, 2002 - 12:16   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: Let's get to the White House now, front lawn, Kelly Wallace tracking developments here between the Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russia's foreign minister.

There are plans in the works here, Kelly. What more are we finding out about these two men and their discussions?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, a very significant development indeed. The Russian foreign minister coming out, after meeting in the Oval Office with President Bush, saying in his words: "There is a very high probability of an agreement between the United States and Russia, when it comes to the two countries reducing their nuclear arsenal, their nuclear weapons, in time for President Bush's first presidential trip to Russia later this month."

Bill, as you know, U.S. and Russian officials have been working, trying to resolve difference between the two countries. The two countries have basically agreed in essence to reduce their nuclear arsenal by about two-thirds.

A big sticking point really has been that the U.S. wanted to store some excess nuclear warheads in the case of any emergency. Russia was pretty much against that, but, a very optimistic message coming from the foreign minister a short time ago.

He said he'll be talking more with Secretary of State Colin Powell. Here now, what the foreign minister told reporters just a few minutes earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): In the course of today's negotiations with Secretary Powell, we intend to resolve all major basic outstanding issues, and related both to the preparations of the visit and to the finalization of the treaty itself, and we intend to achieve the finalization, at least in the fundamental, basic terms.

(END VIDEOTAPE CLIP)

WALLACE: So there you hear the foreign minister saying he will continue talking with Secretary of State Colin Powell, but very, very hopeful, very optimistic that there will be an agreement, he said, at least in the fundamental terms in time for President Bush's visit and meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month.

He also used the word "treaty." There had been some discussion. The Russians very much wanted to put this in some type of treaty form. There had been some resistance from the Bush administration, but Ari Fleischer, the President's spokesman, even saying earlier on this day that the President was hopeful that the differences could be resolved in time to put this in some type of written form, written way.

So clearly, lots of optimism, still work to be done on the differences, but it looks like there would be a signing ceremony between the two countries later this month in Russia. Bill.

HEMMER: Kelly, thank you, Kelly Wallace.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com