Clinton, Yeltsin Begin Summit Tough Issues Face Two Leaders, Including N-Plant Sale To Iran
Proffering a mix of support and pressure for Russia, President Clinton arrived in Moscow today for ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The festivities precede what promises to be a troublesome summit with Boris Yeltsin.
Beginning on a ceremonial note, Clinton was laying a Victory Day wreath at Russia’s Tomb of the Unknowns today and attending a parade of World War II veterans.
Before leaving Washington, Clinton sought to ease a dispute with Yeltsin over the future role of NATO, assuring him in a letter that the alliance is not accelerating its plans for an eastward expansion.
Russia’s proposed sale of nuclear equipment to Iran, the NATO argument and continued Russian military action in the breakaway area of Chechnya cloud the agenda of the summit, the fourth between Clinton and Yeltsin.
As Clinton left Washington for the nine-hour flight, the White House issued the final draft of an executive order signed by Clinton imposing a full trade ban on Iran.
“The United States cannot remain idle in the face of this heightened threat posed by Iran,” White House spokesman Mike McCurry said.
The new sanctions prohibit any trade by American individuals or businesses in goods or services “of Iranian origin.” They also prohibit any export of U.S. “goods, technology or services” to Iran.
The sanctions - so far no U.S. ally has gone along - were an attempt by Clinton to head off even stronger action by Congress, particularly against Russia. U.S. officials contend Iran could use material and know-how from the Russian nuclear deal to build nuclear weapons.
Republican congressional leaders have threatened a cut in U.S. aid to Russia unless Yeltsin backs down.
Increasingly, conservative legislatures in both countries have chilled the once-warm Clinton-Yeltsin relationship.
A senior administration official, speaking with reporters aboard Air Force one en route to Moscow, said Clinton had sent Yeltsin a letter reassuring him that NATO is not speeding up its eastward expansion.
“It is very important that the Russians understand that in this process there are no surprises, that it will proceed at its own natural pace and we will not accelerate that pace,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Russian leaders are concerned that NATO may station nuclear weapons in former Soviet-bloc countries if those nations join the alliance.
The U.S. official denied reports that Clinton offered Russia membership in NATO.
Instead, the United States wants Russia and its former Warsaw Pact neighbors to join an arrangement it calls “Partnership for Peace,” short of full membership.
The summit meetings begin after the two presidents join other world leaders in a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Clinton attended a similar ceremony in Arlington, Va., before leaving.
Clinton said in a speech late Sunday that neither the Chechnya war nor the Iran nuclear sale should be allowed to poison Washington-Moscow relations.