By Xinhua writers Hai Yang, Yu Maofeng and Lu Jingli
MOSCOW, July 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's left Moscow on Wednesday, concluding his visit to Russia which was described as an effort to "reset" the strained relations between the two countries.
Several vital agreements including a framework document for a new strategic arms reduction treaty were inked on the first day of Obama's visit, marking a gradual thawing of bilateral ties.
However, local media and observers anticipate a long, difficult road ahead for the two countries on their way to improve relations.
VITAL DEALS REACHED
After their first face-to-face meeting in London early this April, Medvedev and Obama pledged to "reset" their strained relations. The replacement of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) that is due to expire on December 5 is widely regarded as the breakthrough for such a "reset" process.
After three rounds of talks behind closed doors before the presidents met, the two leaders finally inked a document of understanding on nuclear weapon control on the first day of their Moscow summit.
Under the framework document adopted by the two presidents, within seven years after a new treaty comes into force, the number of strategic delivery systems should be limited to between 500 to 1,100 units and warheads to between 1,500 to 1,675 units. The two countries should only deploy strategic offensive weapons within their domestic territories.
"This legally binding treaty will be completed by the end of this year," Obama said. He expressed the hope that the two countries would reduce their nuclear arms by as many as one third and move even beyond that in subsequent treaties.
After five hours of talks, Medvedev and Obama also signed a joint statement on missile defense.
Russia and the U.S. plan to continue talks on cooperation regarding issues such as anti-missiles and non-proliferation of ballistic missiles, according to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry.
On a basis of mutual respect for security interests, it said, both sides will actively seek the best way to strengthen reciprocal strategic relations.
The summit also saw an agreement allowing 4,500 flights a year carrying U.S. troops and weapons to Afghanistan across the Russian territory for free. Obama hailed this move as a "substantial contribution by Russia to an international effort," as it will save the U.S. troops time and money.
The two leaders vowed to cooperate on the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan.
The two leaders also agreed to set up a joint presidential commission to expand cooperation on nuclear safety, arms control, counter-terrorism, as well as cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, education and cultural exchanges.
KEY DIVERGENCES REMAIN
Despite the multiple agreements reached during Obama's visit, the two sides still failed to resolve long-existing differences on issues of major concern at the summit, such as the missile defense plan and Georgia.
On the nuclear arsenals cuts, the respective stances of both sides have not changed fundamentally.
Moscow still firmly believes that a new strategic arms reduction treaty is related to the U.S. missile defense plan in Europe, while the U.S. side contends that these two things are not connected.
Since any missile defense shield cannot stop powerful nuclear weapons from Russia, said Obama, the U.S. plan will not be regarded as a threat to Russia's security.
According to Obama, it is rather meant to deal with missiles coming from a third party.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is in charge of Russian-U.S. relations, said that after the summit talks the two sides failed to reach concrete agreements on missile defense cooperation. Still, they have made progress on joint threat evaluation, the Itar-Tass News Agency reported.
As for Georgia, Obama said at the joint news conference that he disagreed with Medvedev over the current Georgian borders. Obama believes that Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty should be respected.
Obama also voiced opposition to any new military hostilities in the region, adding that differences should be resolved "peacefully and constructively."
Such remarks reflect the divergence between Russia and the U.S. on the issue of Georgia, analysts noted, since Russia consistently opposes the accession of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO as well as any U.S. interference in the region.
Therefore, the two countries have not reached consensus on this key issue, said analysts.
NO EASY JOB TO RESET TIES
Although the summit saw the signing of several agreements, it yielded no concrete results that will have far-reaching influence on Russian-U.S. ties, Russian media said.
"Most of the documents signed by the presidents are not legally binding, but declarations of intentionality," Russian newspaper Vzgliad said in a commentary. Resetting is by no means as simple as pushing a button, Politcom website observed.
More pessimistic observers said that bilateral relations have not been reset as the rows over nuclear arms reduction, the U.S. missile defense plan and NATO's eastward expansion remained.
The only potential breakthrough in the relationship would come if Obama and Medvedev agreed to move toward joint missile defense, said Dmitri Trenin, director of Carnegie Moscow Center.
Due to the insistence of the U.S. to further deploy missile defense shields in Eastern Europe, as well as the far-reaching military power of NATO, Russia is unwilling to give up its powerful strategic offensive arms, analysts noted.
Russia agreed to work out a replacement plan for START I by the end of this year, as the deadline for cutting nuclear weapons will fall on the seventh year after a new nuclear arms control deal takes effect. By then, the new U.S. president may have abandoned the costly missile shield plan.
The summit hardly touched on Ukraine and Georgia's bid for NATO membership, another stumbling block in resetting Russian-U.S. relations. Still, in his keynote speech at the New Economic School, Obama said that the sovereignty of Ukraine and Georgia must be respected. In an apparent reference to the two former Soviet republics, he said it was up to the majority of a country's people to choose whether to join an organization like NATO.
As long as the deadlock over NATO's eastward enlargement and the U.S. missile defense plans remains, there is a slim chance that Russian-U.S. relations will improve, analysts said.
