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Henry Kissinger Harvests the Fruits of Agreement
// Protocol
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger yesterday at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow. He was not late for his meeting with the American, who he has a high opinion of both personally and politically. They are both spies and, unlike presidents and secretaries of state, there are no former spies. Two old professionals were meeting. Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov observed.
Kissinger has trouble walking. Putin began their meeting by congratulating him on his recent 83rd birthday and added that “Relations between our two countries are developing successfully on the base of that you laid in your time as secretary of state.”
Kissinger was obviously happier to be reminded of his career than of his age. Since his time as secretary of state, Kissinger has been consulting presidents and jetting around the world on sensitive missions, like the one he was on now in Moscow. It was known that he would discuss Iran and Belarus with the Russian president, and that there was to be no particularly ardent disagreement.
“The substantive content of our relations has changed for the better, of course,” Putin continued in rather inarticulate Russian. Apparently, the translation sounded better.
“Our views often do not coincide,” Putin continued, “but we understand each other and find a compromise. Our latest joint steps in the Iranian direction speak just of that.”
From Kissinger's slow nod, it could be understood that that subject had already been tackled.
“Our cooperation in the fight against terrorism remains quite timely, of course,” Putin continued some more. “I spoke with the president of the United States by telephone just yesterday. We maintain constant contact at practically all levels.”
Later, it became known that the presidents spoke of security at the St. Petersburg G8 summit.
“I am not an official,” Kissinger began modestly after a preliminary sigh, “but I have the opportunity to talk to our leaders quite frequently, and I know they greatly appreciate the cooperation on the issue of Iran that resulted in the six-power agreement, and they know that the Russian cooperation was one of the principal elements that made it possible. When I was an official, I always held the position that Russia and the U.S. should not be enemies. And I am completely certain that the next meeting between you and President Bush will be the next important step in that direction.”
There meeting lasted only about 40 minutes as they ate strawberries and cherries. When they went out to speak with journalists, Kissinger asked if they minded if he sat.
“No, of course not,” he was told by all, but a television cameraman added, “But it would be better if you stood. For the balance.” This was dutifully translated and Kissinger smiled wanly and remained standing.
“One has to look at the evolutions of countries, and I have confidence in the Russian evolution. I was part of the founding of the G8 in 1975, and the topics that were discussed then and are discussed now are better with the participation of Russia,” Kissinger said.
Kissinger did not explain his comment. Nor did he say that he had come to Moscow to say that the U.S. could support Russia's admittance to the WTO before the St. Petersburg G8 summit in exchange for support in the Iran crisis, as Kommersant learned later.
“No more question please,” Kissinger said shortly thereafter, “I'm late for my plane.”
Andrey Kolesnikov
All the Article in Russian as of June 07, 2006
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