| RUSSIA | |
| 10 | President Clinton To Visit Russia in September |
| 11 | Status of Ratification of START II |
............
QUESTION: How about Russia?
MR. RUBIN: Yes.
QUESTION: There has been an announcement by Russian side President Clinton is scheduled to visit Russia this coming September and there hasn't been any announcement by US side.
MR. RUBIN: Yes, it's my understanding the White House has by now released a statement confirming the President's intention to visit Russia in the first week of September.
QUESTION: Without a START treaty?
MR. RUBIN: We have never said that ratification -
QUESTION: Oh, my. Taiwan is tough enough. Don't try it.
MR. RUBIN: Let me try to explain this to you.
QUESTION: Go ahead.
MR. RUBIN: It's funny. We predicted that reaction.
QUESTION: Then you can explain the writs of habeus corpus when you're done.
MR. RUBIN: We have said that it would be more effective to pursue discussions on START III if START II was ratified; therefore, the opportunity for a more fruitful summit would exist if START II was ratified because there would be a greater chance for START III to be advanced. In the absence of a ratified START II, it is hard to get into a discussion in detail about START III, as you and I discussed last week.
But there are other issues that we and the Russians have to discuss, including the situation in Kosovo, including the threat of nuclear tests growing in India and Pakistan, including the Russian financial crisis. We have several issues of importance in the US-Russian relationship, bilateral issues, issues where we share an interest in solving problems around the world, as well as arms control.
None of this is designed to change the fact that we would like to see START II ratified as soon as possible and that in the absence of START II being ratified it will be difficult to move farther down the agenda of arms control at this summit; nevertheless, there are other issues to be discussed in this important relationship.
(The briefing ended at 1:35 p.m.)
[end of document]