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CNN Saturday Morning News

Rumsfeld Works to Strengthen Coalitions in Central Asia, Russia

Aired November 03, 2001 - 11:07   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is heading to Central Asia for talks with leaders in two former Soviet Republics in Moscow. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on coalition building, and on nuclear weapons.

CNN's David Ensor reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rumsfeld came here to talk about missiles and nuclear weapons with the Russians, working on a grand bargain Presidents Putin and Bush hope to agree on later this month, under which the U.S. could test missile defense technologies, but would slash its strategic nuclear arms dramatically, as Russia has long wanted. No agreement yet.

The talk was also, though, of fighting terrorism and the help that Russia is giving.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The United States and the president of the United States are grateful for the fine cooperation and close working relationship that we have, as two countries with respect to the effort against terrorism.

ENSOR: Earlier Rumsfeld said bad weather has prevented more U.S. special forces from operating on the ground until now, but that the weather forecast for coming days looks better. Asked to what he and commanding generals are discussing, Rumsfeld said simply: "You will know in a couple of days." Other U.S. officials have suggested the pace of U.S. military action in Afghanistan could soon escalate.

(on camera): From here Secretary Rumsfeld flies on to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to talk about military cooperation; and from there to Pakistan, which is on the front-lines, and to India. And those two countries trying to help keep calm over Kashmir. The U.S. wants no distractions from its efforts to go after Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.

David Ensor, CNN, at the Kremlin in Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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