March 4, 2004 :: News
Stephen Rademaker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, during his visit to Russia gave an interview published by the Russkii Kurier, where he indicated that Russia continues to contribute to the proliferation of ballistic missile systems and technology, here specifically in regard to Iran:
I informed my Russian colleagues that according to the information the US Department of State possesses, Iranian medium- and short-range missiles were equipped with Russian gear. It means that Russia should do better in implementing the treaty on nonproliferation of missile technologies. Russian colleagues assure me that Moscow sticks to the letter of the treaty and honors it, but I consider the matter open all the same.
Besides North Korea, Iran is the rogue state probably most likely to next develop long range ICBMs which could reach the United States.
Text of Interview:
Question: This is not your first visit to Moscow. Whom did you meet with this time? What matters were discussed?
Stephen Rademaker: My official capacity is the answer to that. As an undersecretary for arms control, arms control is what I came to discuss. I met with representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, Nuclear Energy Ministry, and with Duma members.
To be more specific, we discussed implementation of START, the status of the Geneva Conference on Disarmament, and treaties on medium- and short-range missiles and reduction of strategic arsenals. We also spoke of the problems of disposal of chemical weapons and the CFE treaty.
Question: What are the results?
Stephen Rademaker: First and foremost, we made considerable progress with the Foreign Ministry of Russia in establishing the joint commission for monitoring implementation of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty. We drafted a document on functions of the commission which will meet for the first time soon.
There were some problematic issues to discuss as well, unfortunately. I informed my Russian colleagues that according to the information the US Department of State possesses, Iranian medium- and short-range missiles were equipped with Russian gear. It means that Russia should do better in implementing the treaty on nonproliferation of missile technologies. Russian colleagues assure me that Moscow sticks to the letter of the treaty and honors it, but I consider the matter open all the same.
Question: Disposal of chemical weapons is a problem for Russia. The United States promised its help. Is there any news here?
Stephen Rademaker: I’m happy to announce that the United States plans to expand its aid to Russia in the matter of chemical weapons. America has already planned $460 million to build a disposal plant in the town of Shchuchie near Kurgan. Moreover, $230 million has already been allocated. The money was put to good use, not wasted. Now that actual construction of the facility is under way, we provide $10 million every month. In addition to the already planned $460 million, the US Congress intends to provide $200 million more in this financial year. The US Administration requested another $160 million for disposal of Russian chemical weapons in the next financial year.
Question: What about ratification of the 1999 Istanbul accords on the CFE treaty?
Stephen Rademaker: The US Senate will not initiate the procedure ratification unless Russia kept its promises to the Istanbul OSCE summit first. The matter concerns withdrawal of bases from Georgia and the Trans-Dniester region. Moscow officially claims that 11 years are needed for the withdrawal, while Tbilisi insists that three years will suffice. Moscow is prepared to agree to seven years, Tbilisi to five. Moscow and Tbilisi have spent two years trying to find a midpoint between seven and five. The impression the international community is getting is that neither possesses the political will for a compromise. As for Moldova, the information the US State Department has compiled so far indicates that everything rests on the $100 million of Tiraspol’s gas debts to Russia. The Trans-Dniester region will permit withdrawal of Russian military hardware only when the debts are written off. As far as I know, leaders of Russia are prepared to write off the debt, but nothing has been done in this sphere in practice. I’m leaving Moscow for Chisinau on March 3.
Generally speaking, I believe that if the adapted CFE treaty is as important for Moscow as it claims, then the Kremlin should write off the Trans-Dniester debt and reach an agreement with Georgia. If it doesn’t, then the CFE treaty is not that important. For the United States, in its turn, the problem of Georgia and Moldova is important indeed, because it has complicated the matter of flank limitations.
Stephen Rademaker bio
(Article)
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