Global AMD?
John Beyrle, former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and present ambassador to Russia, in an interview with Russian Izvestia newspaper.

One of the unsolved problems between Russia and the USA is the U.S. intention to dispose elements of the Anti-Missile Defense (AMD) in Europe. Russia offers alternatives of the AMD as common monitoring on the missile threat from south, for example.

Do the U.S. diplomats take the Russian proposal into consideration? Do they find it necessary to cooperate with Russia in this field? May the standpoint of the USA on the anti-missile defense finally change?

Talking about disposing of AMD elements in the Czech Republic and Poland, it should be emphasized that the system has never been planed or considered as something directed against Russia.
It was made with different purposes – against the increasing threat from the Near East, especially from Iran. The President Omaba was explicit that if the Iranian threat were removed, the reasons for building an AMD system would also be removed. That is why our states should strive to remove the threat from Iran together.
If we consider it in the broad sense, we have always admitted: the USA, Russia and other key states can create more sophisticated system together. It even is possible the system to be global. It will be able to protect our states and to provide better security.
From this point of view, we are ready to negotiate with Russia – on the opportunity for creating AMD, capable of protecting both our states, our partners and allies all over the world.
It is not a secret that the problem with Abkhazia and South Ossetia is one of the underlying obstacles in our relations.


Is it to go on the same way? What concrete steps are the USA to propose?

You are right: one of the most serious discords between Russia and the USA is the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We do not acknowledge these regions’ independency and we do understand that Russia will hardly repeal their acknowledgement. Therefore, lets get out of these discords and see where our positions coincide. We are unanimous that there should be piece and safety in the region. Along with Russia, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are already working in several directions. Some of them are the Geneva discussions. On the negotiating table representatives of the sides in the conflict took a seat to discuss some practical issues: how the tension to be reduced. Therefore, the international participation is very important. The people just want to get back in their homes. They need to believe in the future. Russia and the USA may cooperate in many fields to provide the region with safety. Lets even admit that on some fundamental issues about the statute of about the Abkhazia and South Ossetia we will not reach an agreement.


Barack Obama promised to visit Russia in July. Has the preparation for such a visit started?

President Obama was pleased at the invitation of Dmitry Medvedev to come to Russia. Where the meeting will be held? Wait and see. We are working on its content now.