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Ivanov: that's a good question. I would prefer Donald Rumsfeld were in the vicinity so that he could
respond to this question, for this is a question addressed exactly to him, not to me. We're openly saying what we
think, where we stand on this. We have just explained what Russia is ready for, and naturally enough, we have
the nuclear policy that is going to be preserved for all times. We are going to upgrade it and develop, we do not
conceal this fact, but we regard the nuclear weapons as a political deterrence means to ward off any aggression
on our country and our allies.
We do not have a lot of allies, but still we have them. Those are in the first place, they're party signatories
to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. That's all there is to it as far as our views of the employment of
nuclear weapons is... are concerned. As for the other states, I'm sorry, I'm just responsible for the Russian
Federation in terms of defence solely.
Q: Viacheslav Tyhomyrov Russian television channel. If possible, as for the bilaterals you had, what
practical steps have you taken? Probably some exercises have been covered you have agreed to, could you
please clarify that, thank you.
Ivanov: if we are to talk about the meeting with Mr. Rumsfeld today, in the first place, as I've now said,
we started a concrete and practical, pragmatic hands-on elaboration of the instructions which were given to us by
the Presidents back at Camp David, including as bearing upon the issues of co-operation and interaction in the
theatre missile... In the missile defences, in the theatre missile defence and to aircraft defences and bilaterally.
Such elaboration, such co-operation is possible and we are engaged in this together with NATO. So we are kind
of working on two tracks, both purely a Russian-American track and NATO-Russia track. Both ways, we have
concrete plans currently set up for more concrete activities. I can't elaborate on these, I'm sorry, I'm not
authorized to do that.
Naturally enough, we have covered the issues of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation. This is a
very serious problem. This is a real world threat and believe me, on a number of avenues, on a number of routes,
it's even more serious for the U.S. Rather and for Russia. Take into account the geography, Russia is by the way
bordering on 17 states as contrasted to the United States which has only two good, trusted, peaceful... Peaceable
and quiet neighbours, Canada and Mexico. What we have on the ground is the direct opposite. But as they put in
Russia, you do not choose your own relatives and neighbours in your life.
We also discussed the issues of counter-terrorism. As for the meeting with the... As for the Minister of
Defence of Germany, Minister Struck, we were very pleased to get to know that today in Ekaterinburg. The
German Chancellor Schroeder and Russian President Putin signed a bilateral agreement on the transit of service
personnel and military cargo through Russian territory to Afghanistan. That's the first practical step related to
the fulfilment by Russia of its own undertakings as related to assistance to be rendered to Afghanistan both
within the UN framework and with the NATO-Russia co-operation later on.
I also informed all of my NATO partners that this is an agreement we just signed now, and if anyone is
wishing to have any similar entitlements, the precedent is there. One should not reinvent a bicycle once again.
One should not ask for the legal experts' opinion who... Whom it takes more often than not months to do that.
Examining this on a bilateral basis, we can conclude such an agreement now rather quickly in case there is such
an interest.
We also discussed the situation... The developments in Afghanistan rather extensively with our German
partners who are alongside with the canadians there also... They also constitute the bulk of the ISAF, the
International Security Assistance Force out in Afghanistan.
Q: ...Fox News Channel. Two-part question for you. First of all, do you believe that Iran is trying to
make a nuclear bomb?
Ivanov: well, it's not an issue of belief or confidence or personal attitude. The most important,
fundamental, crucial thing about this is that the international community, the family of nations could be
persuaded through their legal norms of international law, through the agency or procedures of the ……, of these,
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