State Department Noon Briefing

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2001 - 1:35 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

QUESTION: Mr. Fischer, the German Foreign Minister thinks that the
Russians might after all be willing to go along with a US National
Missile Defense. Has the US detected any flexibility on Russia's part
on it?

MR. BOUCHER: I'm not sure we've heard anything new at this stage. I
wouldn't expect to. The Secretary may meet with Foreign Minister
Ivanov in the near future. He will see Foreign Minister Fischer next
week, so we'll be able to hear from him about his contacts in Moscow
to see what he heard. And as the Secretary has made quite clear, we do
believe that it's in all our interests, of the United States as well
our friends and allies and countries like Russia and China, for
defense to become part of the strategic concept, that in the end it
will make everybody safer.

....

Q: On missile defense, when the Secretary meets with Mr. Fischer next
week and others in Brussels and pushes this issue, can you tell us
what type of missile defense he is talking about? The President spoke
of a robust shield and Secretary Rumsfeld, beginning in Munich,
started talking more of a limited scheme, as if he was almost
endorsing or picking up on the Clinton plan. Is there any sort of tilt
back in that direction?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think we are at the stage of being able to
specify to you any particular technology or plan. That issue will be
looked at, particularly by the Department of Defense, as we go
forward, and so it will be up to them to look at the issue and
determine how best to go forward.

Our goal at this point in these discussions is to make clear that the
Administration does firmly believe that defense has to be part of our
broader strategic concept and that we do want to proceed with all
aspects of strategic issues, meaning we want to proceed in looking at
offensive weapons, diplomatic opportunities, nonproliferation efforts,
as well as defense.

Q: It sounds as though like you are sort of, in that context, asking
for a blank check from the Europeans and maybe even the Russians,
saying, well, we're going to have some defense. I can't tell you what,
but please trust us.

MR. BOUCHER: No, I wouldn't put it that way. I would say that it
sounds like exactly what's happening, and that is we are talking to
our friends and allies as we go forward. We will be consulting with
them along the way at every stage. And at later stages, when we may be
able to talk more about technology, I am sure we will still be talking
to them then. But at this stage, as we go forward, we want to make
sure we establish a good dialogue and close consultations with our
allies.