MOSCOW, June 29: A testy exchange overheard between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exposed tensions in US-Russia ties and gave an insight into how the two interact away from the world’s cameras.
The discussion between Rice and Lavrov dominated foreign ministers’ talks over lunch at Thursday’s Group of Eight meeting that were aimed at hammering out wording for a joint communique.
Reporters outside the closed-door meeting listened in on an audio feed that officials had not turned off.
Rice objected to Lavrov inserting words saying that security for foreign missions should be beefed up in Iraq after Russian embassy workers were killed this month, and complained there was no reference to an international aid accord for Iraq.
She said Lavrov’s proposed language implied foreign interference with, rather than support for, the Iraqi government. “I did not suggest this,” Lavrov interjected.
“What I did say was not ‘involvement in the political process’ but the ‘involvement of the international community in support of the political process’.”
“What does that mean?” Rice asked.
After a long pause, Lavrov told her, “I think you understand.”
“No, I don’t,” she said.
After more quibbling, Rice conceded the concept of a US-proposed international agreement to provide aid for Iraq’s economic policies would be omitted from the communique.
“It’s a pity that we can’t endorse something that’s been endorsed by the Iraqis and the UN,” she said. “But if that’s how Russia sees it, that’s fine.”
In the end, other foreign ministers persuaded the two diplomats to compromise on both areas of disagreement.
The official communique artfully mentioned the need in Iraq for improved security without specifying diplomats’ safety and, while not endorsing the idea, it urged an international response to Iraq’s call for an aid agreement.
The diplomats’ roughly 20-minute exchange in English over just a few words showed how painstakingly the world’s senior diplomats can discuss details.
But it also revealed the tense relationship between Rice and Lavrov that reflects their governments’ differences.
The United States has particularly irked Russia with accusations that Moscow curbs media and non-governmental groups and complaints it has skewed the rule of law in the energy sector.
At a news conference after the G8 meeting, the tone from Rice and Lavrov was more measured than behind closed doors but they continued to joust.
Rice reiterated those concerns but said Russia’s democracy had come a long way since her first visit to Moscow in 1979.
Lavrov sought to minimise her criticism by comparing Russian and US democracy, saying he had seen changes in America since his first visit there the same year.
Rice shot back: “So when did you go and where did you go in the United States in 1979 that you saw so much change? I am really interested,” she said.—Reuters
