by MEMRI
There remain significant areas of disagreement, but on the whole, positive and cautiously optimistic
U.S.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Moscow on April 11-12, 2017
came against the backdrop of a recent U.S. missile strike on a Syrian
airbase that was followed by political tensions between Russia and the
U.S.[1]
At the G7 meeting in Italy just prior to his trip to Moscow, Tillerson
had stated: "I think it’s also worth thinking about Russia has [sic]
really aligned itself with the Assad regime, the Iranians, and
Hizbullah. Is that a long-term alliance that serves Russia’s interest,
or would Russia prefer to realign with the United States, with other
Western countries and Middle East countries who are seeking to resolve
the Syrian crisis? We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian
people. We want to create a future for Syria that is stable and secure.
And so Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role,
or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is
not going to serve Russia’s interest longer-term. But only Russia can
answer that question."[2]
Commenting on Tillerson's words, Russia
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "It's useless to
come to us with ultimatums, it's just counterproductive."[3] However, the meeting between Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov changed Russia's internal mood. Maxim Usim, columnist for the Russian daily Kommersant,
noted that Tillerson's language was not confrontational and that this
had enabled him to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin just
before his departure from Moscow.
The following are reactions to U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson's Moscow visit:
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Source: State.gov)
Senator Kosachev: "The American Did Not Come With Absurd Proposals… None Of The Parties… Have A Desire To Further Exacerbate The Situation"
Russian Federation Council International
Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachev wrote on his Facebook
page: "The first impression is quite positive. No breakthrough occurred,
and no one expected it. However, the two sides were able to avoid the
temptation of the overstated expectations, and the modest results of the
meeting are still positive." Kosachev stressed that a meaningful result
was the Russian and U.S. commitment to maintaining the dialogue by
"institutionalizing it in the format of special representatives."
He added: "The two sides now have a better
understanding of the possible and impossible limits in the prospects
for bilateral relations and in the interpretation of international
problems. The Americans obviously did not come with some absurd
proposals similar to exchanging (Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad) for
G7 membership, Ukraine for Syria and so on, and also not only with
moralizing and ultimatums."
He stressed: "Otherwise, the meeting
with (Russian President Vladimir Putin) would have not taken place, as
wasting time on empty words is not his style."
Kosachev also said that Russia "unambiguously
confirmed its willingness to restore cooperation, provided that the two
sides could do without the notorious American mentoring and arrogance. Anyway,
none of the parties seems to have a desire to further exacerbate the
situation, and everyone believes that it is not hopeless."
(Tass.com, April 13, 2017)
(Source: Sputniknews.com, April 12, 2017)
Kommersant Columnist: Tillerson's Moderate Language Enabled Meeting With Putin
Maxim Usim, a columnist for the Russian daily Kommersant,
wrote that Tillerson's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov was not confrontational, but rather business oriented. According
to Usim, Tillerson avoided using harsh language regarding Russian
policies, while Lavrov was reserved and diplomatic. The impression,
wrote Usim, is that both sides want to minimize the damage to bilateral
relations by "Trump's Syrian escapade," adding that the mere fact that
Tillerson avoided "speaking in terms of sanctions and ultimatums" made
the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin possible.
(Kommersant.ru, April 12, 2017)
Izvestia: "The First Attempt To Get Along May Be Considered Productive, Even If Not Fully Successful"
The Russian daily Izvestia
summarized Tillerson's the visit as follows: "The most important thing
is that during this very short but very intense visit the sides
succeeded in reaching an agreement regarding further steps to be taken
in order to get rid of the bilateral crisis. At the same time, the
visit's message to the world was: The first attempt to 'get along' may
be considered productive, even if not fully successful."
(Izvestia.ru, April 13, 2017)
Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman: "There Was No Ultimatum"
Duma International Affairs Committee
chairman Leonid Slutsky stated: "One of the visit's results is the
failed prognosis regarding some kinds of U.S. ultimatum. There was no
ultimatum. On the contrary, the sides agreed on establishing a joint
group in order to look into the most complicated questions of the
Russia-U.S. agenda."
(Tass.com, April 12, 2017)
Tillerson: "We want to relieve the suffering of the Iraq... Ouch... Liby... Ouch... Syrian people." The cartoon was published prior to Tillerson's visit. (Ria.ru, April 11, 2017)
Senator Klintzevich: "It Is Now Obvious That Tillerson's Visit Was Not A Waste Of Time"
Senator Franz Klintsevich, deputy chair of
the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, commented: "It
is now obvious that Tillerson's visit was not a waste of time.
Reiterating the mutual commitment to fight international terror is the
maximum which could have been achieved, given the recent negative
developments. At the moment, it's quite stupid to discuss who won and
who lost as the result of the meeting, who saved face and who lost
face... The sides opted for mutual compromise, but as a result they
secured the chance to really cooperate against ISIS. That's what is
really important."
(Tass.com, April 12, 2017)
Ivan Melnikov, Communist Party,
Vice-speaker of Duma: "Given the unpredicted U.S. actions influencing
the situation, we may judge only by the deeds rather than by the words
and intentions. Mr. Tillerson leaves good impression, and speaks
respectfully about Russia as a superpower – but what if the principles
of the American imperialism remain in force?"
(Tass.com, April 12, 2017)
Ruling Party United Russia MP Sergey
Zheleznyak: "The meeting demonstrated that despite the differences, our
countries are interested in cooperation concerning various areas –
solving burning international crises as well as renewing economic
cooperation. We'll see how Tillerson's words in Moscow will coincide
with the administration's actions and then we’ll draw our conclusions."
(Tass.com, April 12, 2017)
Senator Pushkov: The Meeting Was "The Start Of Dialogue"
Senator Alexey Pushkov tweeted: "Frontal
confrontation has been cancelled. Russia and the U.S. proceed from the
war of words towards exchanging opinions, controlling the differences
and cautious dialogue."
(Twitter.com/Alexey_Pushkov, April 12, 2017)
Pushkov also tweeted: "The summary of the
negotiations in Moscow: Not yet a breakthrough, but the start of
dialogue and an attempt to strengthen the mutual trust after serious
tensions erupted."
(Twitter.com/Alexey_Pushkov, April 12, 2017)
According to a Russian Defense Ministry source quoted in the Vedomosti
newspaper, Moscow is ready for dialogue and does not consider a
dangerous direct confrontation with the U.S. to be inevitable.
Simultaneously, Moscow demonstrates its readiness to strengthen its
military positions in Syria – this is the message delivered by the
deployment of the frigate Admiral Grigorovich to the Mediterranean.
(Vedomosti.ru, April 13, 2017)
[1] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6866, Russia's Reactions To The U.S. Missile Strike In Syria, April 10, 2017.
[2] State.gov, April 11, 2017.
[3] Ria.ru, April 12, 2017.
MEMRI
Source: https://www.memri.org/reports/reactions-tillersons-visit-russia-%E2%80%93-part-i
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