On January 31, 2001 at a press conference organised in the central office of the Interfax news agency, the leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky spoke in favour of a joint Russian-European ABM system, an analogue to the US system.

Photo: Yabloko’s leader Grigory Yavlinsky at a press conference in the central office of Interfax. January 31, 2001. Photo by Sergei Loktionov, Press Service, Yabloko.

“If the USA is entitled to create a limited ABM system which will protect them from unsanctioned missile launches, including launches from unpredictable states, Russia and Europe have the right to create such a system too,” stated Yavlinsky.

He added: “Considering the military, geographic and geostrategic issues, the European anti-missile defence system can be created only with Russian potential and the participation of Europe.”

Yavlinsky also reminded the press that proposals to create a Russian-European ABM system were first formulated at the end of 1997. Then the initiative was discussed by Yabloko’s leader and representatives of the former US administration, in particular Vice-President Albert Gore and State Secretary Madeleine Albright.

Yavlinsky added: “Simultaneously I discussed these initiatives with Boris Yeltsin, who asked me to develop this direction.” He said that since September 1999 “this issue has been discussed with Vladimir Putin”.

Grigory Yavlinsky also said that he had issued a report on the ABM system in Berlin several days ago, at a representative meeting on security issues. Participants included the Chancellor of Austria, the German Defence Minister and Javier Solana, former Secretary of NATO who is today a top EU official on foreign policy and defence policy issues. “My report was submitted as a possible letter from our President to the US President,” said Grigory Yavlinsky.

“All the topics covered in the letter are very important for debate and will soon be discussed in one way or another,” stressed Yavlinsky.

Grigory Yavlinsky also said that it was important to intensify discussions on the AMB issue, as a new administration had just come to power in the USA.

Based on Interfax reports.

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