15.10.2005 Russia, Moscow region. The president of Russia Vladimir Putin (on the right) and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza (at the left) during a meeting in the presidential residence Novo-Ogarevo.
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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Unusually Wide Security Council
// Condoleezza Rice took part in Vladimir Putin’s meeting with law-enforcement and defense ministers
Negotiations
On Saturday the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to Moscow. Her visit was unexpected. It was already described as totally useless in all directions. However, Kommersant’s special correspondent ANDREY KOLESNIKOV does not think so. In his opinion, there is nothing wrong when such lady as Condoleezza Rice visits Russian capital.
As it was known, Condoleezza Rice showed up in Moscow unexpectedly. According to the highest ranking official from the Russian Foreign Ministry, who shared this information with me in Novo-Ogarevo, it was unexpected trip for the State Secretary herself. Here’s the version of the events told by this Foreign Ministry official. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was planning to meet Condoleezza Rice in London, but he didn’t make it there – some important business prevented him to fly there. And suddenly, the lady said she would fly to Moscow herself – not quite in the wings of love, but maybe of the mutual interests in developing bilateral relationship. It was not really on her way, but there are some cases when extra thousand miles might bring thousand benefits.
If we accept this version, than, it might look like the high ranking Russian officials have pretty cynical attitude to the high-ranking American officials. And there is no exaggeration in this statement. It did make sense for Lavrov to refuse from the London trip only if he knew for sure that Rice will fly to Moscow anyway.
Thus, the Foreign Ministry and Kremlin understood that the U.S. State Secretary is more interested in this meeting than her Russian colleagues. And that means Moscow was well aware of the real results of Rice’s trip in Central Asia. These results were not that good either.
Condoleezza Rice arrived in Novo-Ogarevo in the time when Vladimir Putin was in the middle of the meeting with law-enforcement, defense ministers and members of the Security Council. The head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Medvedev was, as usually, present in the session also. That was traditional Saturday session, devoted exclusively to Nalchik events.
It would be very bad manners to keep the lady waiting, especially after she forgot about her pride and flew to Moscow herself. So, Vladimir Putin invited Rice to sit in the meeting in President’s office. It is not a secret (for Putin as well) that Rice might not speak well, but perfectly understands Russian. So, for her, it was not waste of time either. Someone said that she even participated in the meeting and was deeply touched by this special trust (it is like she was accepted as the Russian Security Council member.)
Right after the session was over, the U.S. Secretary of State went directly into the Putin’s office. The stressful trips make her look slender, as strange as it sounds. Putin paid attention to this fact – although, he waited first until the journalists started to leave his office.
“I would like to congratulate you, Madam Secretary with the results of your visit to the Central Asia,” Putin said and I saw how Condoleezza Rice expressed some surprise with the eyebrows movement on her face. She was surprised not by the Russian President’s knowledge of the results (it would be strange to think that he doesn’t know), but rather his desire to congratulate her with these results. It looked like, the results had nothing to be proud of. However, she immediately smiled to Putin, thus getting rid off the surprise expression in her face.
Putin, of course, also saw the eyebrows’ play on the Secretary's face and returned her a slight smile.
“I know that your trip was successful," Putin continued. “However, if you would tell us more about the trip results, we would really appreciate that.”
Condoleezza Rice nodded again and this time she looked more sincere. She came exactly for the reason to talk with Vladimir Putin about Central Asia. There was a problem with American troop’s withdrawal from Uzbekistan and everybody understands that it will be solved mostly between Russian and the USA. (However, after the meeting Sergey Lavrov, while answering my question about the meaning of the consultations, stated: “Well, primarily it was an argument of not managing sides but rather negotiating ones.” Again, it would be strange, if he would say something different being in his position.)
At that point the open part of the meeting was over. Already at the door I heard how Rice was thanking Putin for the night she spent in Moscow: “Thank you, I rested quite well.”
“You don’t look too tired either,” the President of Russia stated.
Vladimir Putin was talking with the Secretary of State for more than an hour. First, it was meeting with participation of the aides, and then they spoke almost without witnesses for another 15 minutes. Rice departed from Novo-Ogarevo of white Chevrolet SUV with American diplomatic tags. That was another favor she got on that day. Usually, the foreign cars do drive around Russian President’s residence.
After the negotiations the high ranking source from the Foreign Ministry decided to meet with journalists again. He revealed that Americans are not planning to stay in Afghanistan after the situation there would get better. However, nobody expressed any emotions because the situation there is far from being better.
During the negations one more goal of the Rice’s visit was revealed. She was wondering if other Central Asian countries might follow the Uzbekistan’s example and would ask American troops out. I think, the Secretary of State didn’t quite quench her thirst for the knowledge on that subject.
Another high ranking source told me that Iranian problem was discussed in pretty friendly atmosphere. For instance, answering the Russian President’s question what exactly Iran or Russia are doing wrong in construction of the nuclear power plant in Busher, Condoleezza Rice answered: “Everything is all right! You have achieved the main result – Iran’s agreement to remove out of the country spent nuclear fuel.”
However, this statement was contradicting Rice’s morning statement (after the negotiations with Sergey Lavrov)about the U.S. would never accept any kind of Iranian nuclear program – even the strictly civilian one.
Or, maybe, after the meeting with Putin and seeing the spiritual faces of the Security Council members, she suddenly understood that here, in Moscow Suburbs, there are people with no other goal than the fight against the world terrorism – even on the prophylactic level.
Andrey Kolesnikov
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 17, 2005
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