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CNN Live Today
In Moscow, President Bush and Russian President Putin Sign Landmark Treaty
Aired May 24, 2002 - 12:05 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now in Moscow, where President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a landmark treaty today, calling for the largest reduction ever in their countries' nuclear arsenals. Mr. Bush says the signing opens up an entirely new relationship between the two former enemies. But behind the rhetoric lies serious concern over the language of the pact.
CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King joins us from Moscow with more on that.
Hi there, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka.
President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, enjoying some private time tonight with President Putin and his wife out at the Putin's residence in suburban Moscow. That a reflection of the close personal bond these two leaders have developed, as well as their business dealings. And both saying, as well, they're making substantial progress there as well.
As you noted, the highlight of the day for President Bush here in Moscow, signing a strategic arms reduction treaty with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. That treaty runs just three pages long. It commits the two countries to reducing their active nuclear arsenals by about two-thirds over the next decade. I say "active," because as the two nations go from about 6,000 warheads down to a range of 1,700 to 2,200 warheads, the treaty allows them to keep those warhead in storage.
The Russians wanted them destroyed, the United States would not go along with that position. Some back in Washington and around the world have questioned the wisdom of that, especially here in Russia. There are concerns about nuclear security, whether perhaps the nuclear materials could get into the hands of a terrorist. But President Bush defending his position in a news conference with the Russian leader. President Bush saying it was critical from his standpoint that those warheads be allowed to be kept in storage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Who knows what future presidents will say and how they react. If you have a nuclear arsenal you want to make sure they work. And so one reason that you keep weapons in storage apart from launchers is for quality control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: One very clear source of contention in what both leaders say is a new and a growing friendship, President Bush in private, we are told, appealed to the Russian leader to end sales of nuclear technology to Iran. Also to end sales of sophisticated military technology to Iran.
President Putin taking issue with that in a news conference. President Bush told reporters that President Putin would have something reassuring to say, but then President Putin said it is not Russia that is helping Iran gain missile technology. And he also said, when it comes to nuclear exchanges between Russian and Iran, those go solely, Mr. Putin said, for commercial energy purposes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I'd like to point out that cooperation between Iran and Russia is not of a character which would undermine the process of (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Our cooperation is exclusively, as with regard to energy (UNINTELLIGIBLE), focused on the problems of economic nature.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now U.S. officials flatly dispute that. They believe that Russian-Iranian nuclear cooperation is aimed at least on the Iranian end of developing weapons of mass destruction. But, as you can see, the two leaders taking a walk on the grounds of the Kremlin, some of the more historic churches of Russia on that property. A show of friendship in public.
Both leaders saying, and especially the U.S. side saying, even despite this contentious dispute over Iran they believe this relationship has entered a new chapter. Two friends, no longer rivals, in which they can have very pointed discussions about their differences like Iran, but still have a friendship -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, John, let's talk one more time about the nuclear weapons and the agreement between the U.S. and Russia. Critics are saying they're still not feeling like it is enough that what Bush, we just heard him say that weapons would be stored in a separate location as launchers. What more is being issued to offer some security in that pact?
KING: Well from the United States' perspective, the United States spends a great deal of money helping Russia disarm its nuclear arsenal. There has been concern about a so-called loose nuke, is the terminology used, that might fall into the hands of terrorists, or nuclear materials into the hands of terrorists.
The United States, under a program called (UNINTELLIGIBLE), does help Russia dismantle its warheads. But there is now a concern among the experts, including the advocates of the program, that with so many warheads coming off missiles, coming out of submarines and going into storage, that there's more of a security. That you have this nuclear material sitting around, that there's a risk of accidents, there's a risk of theft.
President Bush making the case that he believes, at least for now, he should be able to keep those weapons. The Pentagon studying potential new uses for those weapons, the warheads, including bunker- busting technology.
The Russians wanted them destroyed. The cost of maintaining the nuclear arsenal is debilitating here in Russia, but the U.S. won out on that position in the treaty. Mr. Bush says the world will be a much safer place with those warheads in storage, not on warheads. But it is still a matter of controversy -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. John King, in Moscow traveling with the president, thank you very much.
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