Russia Warns U.S. on Amending 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Russia sought to downplay its foreign policy differences with the United States on Friday but warned that it will firmly oppose any effort by the U.S. to modify the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Preparing for U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s visit to Moscow on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov struck a conciliatory tone despite recent differences over Iraq, Kosovo and other parts of the world.

“Irritants in bilateral relations mustn’t develop into a more serious confrontation and must be removed,” Ivanov told reporters. “We mustn’t view Russian-U.S. relations exclusively through differences over Kosovo, Iraq or some other issues.”

Although Washington has poured billions of dollars in aid into Russia through the International Monetary Fund, U.S. relations with the former Communist superpower have been rocky. Particular irritants have been the December U.S.-British airstrikes on Iraq--Russia has long been one of Baghdad’s strongest allies on the U.N. Security Council--and the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization into former Soviet bloc territory.

The United States further aroused Russia’s anxiety this week by proposing to amend the ABM Treaty, which it reached with Moscow in 1972, so that it could build a missile-defense system.

The Clinton administration says such a system is needed to protect the U.S. from the possibility of missile attack by rogue states such as North Korea.

However, some Russian military officials, noting that North Korea has not yet developed the ability to launch missiles reliably, interpret the proposal as a move against Russia--a country that does have the capability of launching intercontinental missiles.

Missile-defense systems were curtailed by the ABM Treaty with the idea that the signatories would be less likely to launch missiles at each other if they were vulnerable to attack themselves. U.S. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen appeared to suggest this week that if Russia refused to go along with modifying the treaty, the United States would pull out of the agreement.

Ivanov said Russia will not agree to any changes to the ABM Treaty, which it regards as an important deterrent to nuclear war.

“We proceed from the assumption that it mustn’t happen,” he said, “and will actively be trying to convince our American partners.”

The proposal to amend the ABM Treaty seems unlikely to persuade the Russian parliament to ratify START II, which would limit each side’s nuclear arsenal to no more than 3,500 warheads.

The Communist-dominated Duma, the lower house of parliament, has blocked ratification of START II, contending that it favors the United States. Kick-starting the stalled treaty has been a high priority for the Clinton administration, and it is also on the agenda for Albright’s talks with Russian officials.

“This is a very serious visit, and we consider it of the utmost importance,” Ivanov said. “The essential thing is to prevent sliding from certain differences to outward confrontation. That we will not allow.”

Albright originally was scheduled to meet with President Boris N. Yeltsin during her three-day visit, but that meeting is in doubt because he remains hospitalized for treatment of a stomach ulcer. She will meet with Ivanov and some of Russia’s leading politicians, including Moscow Mayor Yuri M. Luzhkov, the front-runner to succeed Yeltsin.

Ivanov, who was appointed foreign minister last fall when then-Foreign Minister Yevgeny M. Primakov was named prime minister, sought to show that Russia still plays an important part in world affairs despite the collapse of its economy.

“Last year, Russia managed not only to retain its status as a key player in the international arena but to strengthen it,” Ivanov said. “Our dynamic and well-balanced foreign policy is an important stabilizing factor in international affairs. Most countries recognize they cannot resolve today’s major problems without Russia’s direct participation.”