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Thursday, Aug. 16, 2001. Page 3
U.S. Ambassador Urges Russia Over Macedonia
The Associated Press|
The United States would welcome a more active Russian role in settling the Macedonia conflict, the new U.S. ambassador to Russia said Wednesday. Alexander Vershbow, in an interview on Ekho Moskvy radio, also said there were no insurmountable obstacles to Russia's membership in NATO, and reiterated U.S. plans to build a national missile defense — despite Russian objections. Russia's participation in the settlement of the conflict between Macedonian government troops and ethnic-Albanian rebels would be welcome, Vershbow said. He dismissed reports that Russia has felt left out of the negotiation process that resulted in a peace deal this week. Russia welcomed the deal but expressed skepticism that it would lead to a lasting cease-fire. Russia, which in 1999 supported Yugoslavia in its war with ethnic-Albanian rebels in Kosovo, has stood on the side of the Macedonian government since the conflict began there. Regarding possible Russian membership in NATO, Vershbow told the radio station the issue could not be settled soon but could be made a long-term goal. Top U.S. and German officials have recently suggested that Russia could join the alliance at some point. President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia should be allowed to join NATO or the alliance should disband — instead of expanding to include other former Soviet-bloc countries. Vershbow insisted that NATO is no longer a threat to Russia, but that Russia's "real threats are not from the West." He did not elaborate. Reiterating comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during a visit to Moscow this week, Vershbow said the United States plans to build its national missile defense system despite Russian protests that it will violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. He expressed hope that high-level talks could bridge differences. He also said an alternative European missile defense proposal by Putin doesn't go far enough, because it covers only tactical arms. He said much wider areas must be covered by the system. |
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