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U.S. Department of State 93/02/25 News Conference with Russian ForMin Office of the Spokesman US-Russia Summit and Invitations To Middle East Peace Talks Announced Opening statements at a news conference by Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Russian Foreign Minister Kozyrev Geneva, Switzerland February 25, 1993 Foreign Minister Kozyrev (through interpreter): Ladies and gentlemen, I would like, in the first place, to express my satisfaction with the very businesslike meeting that we had, especially with the fact that it was not just a get-acquainted session--although, of course, I am quite happy to meet personally the Secretary and also with the atmosphere that we developed right from the very outset. But I am also satisfied with the very businesslike discussion that we've just had. This meeting made it possible for us to see once again that in the multipolar world that we live now, Russia and the United States, instead of confronting each other, are in a position to realize the partnership relationship and the cooperative relationship that has been already agreed to. And a major event that would make it possible to broaden that cooperation, to remove all artificial delays, and to accelerate it would be a summit meeting of the two Presidents. At least we agreed--and this is something that we want to recommend to the two Presidents--that the summit meeting take place [on] April the 4th. I can tell you that this date has been suggested by the US side. The US side also suggested several other dates--earlier dates--but we believe that the meeting calls for additional preparation; therefore, we picked out of the dates suggested by the US side a later date so [that], we believe, it could be better prepared. We also agreed that we would proceed forthwith with preparations for the summit meeting on all levels, including a possibility--if there is a need for that--of an additional meeting between the two of us. We discussed several questions related, among other things, to the fact that the two sides are now concentrating on their domestic economic situation. But this is not to suggest that there is less interest in cooperation between the two sides. On the contrary, we believe that cooperation and assistance to Russian reforms is in the agenda--in the domestic agenda--of the two countries. We also discussed the possibility for and the need for strategic cooperation, including: -- Opening access to markets; -- State support of investment; -- Promoting the rescheduling of Russia's external debt; [and] -- The possibility of Russia gaining access to conventional arms markets--of course, under the condition that there would be full compliance with the existing international norms and standards. We also discussed situations in several flash points, and I appreciate the fact that the Secretary of State shared some of the information that he brought back from his trip to the Middle East. And I must also note that that trip has resulted in some positive movement in the direction in which we intend to move further as co-sponsors--that is, the direction of the peace process. And I believe that [the] Secretary will have a few words to say on his trip. I can tell you that there is a symbolic coincidence in our bilateral movement, although from Geneva we intend to go in different geographic directions. I'm leaving for Copenhagen [Denmark] and [the] Secretary for Brussels [Belgium]. But Brussels is the headquarters of the European Economic Community and NATO, while Copenhagen--and Denmark--is the coordinator of the European Economic Community. Therefore, in the political sense, we will be moving in the same direction--that is, the direction of broader European cooperation. Secretary Christopher: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. Foreign Minister Kozyrev and I have had a very good and, as he said, a businesslike session. I believe we have established a good working relationship, building on our prior contacts and building on contacts between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin. We've been in touch quite frequently and have been since the first days of our new Administration. Our meeting today has set the stage for a summit between the two Presidents. As the Minister said, we are pleased to announce that Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin will be meeting together on the 4th of April at a site to [be] mutually agreed upon during the interregnum between now and then. President Clinton sent me to this meeting today to underscore his strong personal support for the reform policies of the Yeltsin Administration. It is of the utmost importance to the United States and, indeed, to the world that President Yeltsin's reform efforts succeed. A strong and cooperative US-Russian relationship, a relationship of genuine partnership, is of the highest priority for President Clinton and his Administration. The United States and Russia have important interests in common. Today, as Minister Kozyrev and I prepared the ground for the summit, we discussed a full range of these common interests. I gave Minister Kozyrev a thumbnail sketch of my trip to seven Middle East countries, and we discussed the respective consultations that I've had with the parties in those countries. It is an important beginning for our relationship--a very hopeful reflection on what the partnership may mean--that Mr. Kozyrev and I today are able to jointly announce that we will be extending invitations for the ninth round of the bilateral Arab- Israeli negotiations, to be held in Washington [DC] during the month of April. We also exchanged views on the continuing bloodshed and suffering in the former Yugoslavia, and we explored ways to promote a peaceful settlement there. We are committed, both of us and our governments, to consulting and coordinating very carefully and closely in pursuit of that goal. In addition to the matters I've mentioned, we also dealt with questions of arms control, including the important matter of proliferation. And we discussed economic cooperation, which can serve our mutual interests. The United States is determined to support the cause of reform in Russia. It is in the interest of the world as well as being in the interest of the Russian people. (###)