Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Financial Times
May 17, 2008 By Daniel Dombey, in Washington
The US administration is facing opposition in Congress over a nuclear deal with Russia intended to improve relations between Moscow and Washington.
Some US diplomats are concerned that a fight over the agreement will hinder their efforts to develop a less confrontational relationship with Moscow now that Demetri Medvedev has taken over as Russia’s president from Vladimir Putin.
The civil nuclear co-operation agreement would permit the transfer of nuclear technology and materials between Russia and the US.
While it is unlikely that opponents of the deal will be able to obtain a veto-proof congressional majority, US officials anticipate a difficult struggle. Congressional aides say that Congress could eventually refuse to grant funds for implementing the agreement.
“We are confident that the Congress will ultimately agree with us,” said Tom Casey, a state department spokesman. “This agreement is extremely important and will help us and help the Russians advance the cause of non-proliferation.”
Congressional unease over the deal highlights the obstacles to agreeing accords with Moscow in a US election year in which the three main presidential candidates have called for a more wary approach to the country.
The nuclear co-operation agreement was endorsed by George W. Bush, the US president, last month at a summit with Mr Putin, Russian president at the time, and Mr Medvedev.
Officials say that the deal, which Moscow has long sought, is not only intended to bolster the two countries’ ties after a time of strain, but was also offered by the US as an incentive for Russia to sign up to the latest United Nations Security Council resolution censuring Iran over its nuclear programme.
Moscow in March duly supported the UN resolution, which includes milder sanctions than Washington had first wanted.
A number of US congressmen have argued that Russia should not be rewarded with the nuclear agreement when its co-operation over the Iranian nuclear dispute has been much less than Washington had wanted and while Moscow continues to collaborate with Tehran.
“The Bush administration has not received enough support from Russia in dealing with Iran to justify moving forward with this agreement at this time,” said Howard Berman, the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee.
The deal will become law unless Congress passes legislation to block it within the coming months.
Edward Markey, a Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts, last week introduced a resolution in the House to block the deal. “Russia’s nuclear, missile and advanced conventional weapons co-operation with Iran makes it absolutely inconceivable that the US would enter into nuclear co-operation with Moscow,” he said.
He challenged the administration’s argument that the agreement was necessary to set up an international nuclear fuel bank in Russia. The idea of such a facility, intended to dissuade countries from developing highly sensitive nuclear technologies, has won broad international support as a non-proliferation measure.
May 17, 2008 By Daniel Dombey, in Washington
The US administration is facing opposition in Congress over a nuclear deal with Russia intended to improve relations between Moscow and Washington.
Some US diplomats are concerned that a fight over the agreement will hinder their efforts to develop a less confrontational relationship with Moscow now that Demetri Medvedev has taken over as Russia’s president from Vladimir Putin.
The civil nuclear co-operation agreement would permit the transfer of nuclear technology and materials between Russia and the US.
While it is unlikely that opponents of the deal will be able to obtain a veto-proof congressional majority, US officials anticipate a difficult struggle. Congressional aides say that Congress could eventually refuse to grant funds for implementing the agreement.
“We are confident that the Congress will ultimately agree with us,” said Tom Casey, a state department spokesman. “This agreement is extremely important and will help us and help the Russians advance the cause of non-proliferation.”
Congressional unease over the deal highlights the obstacles to agreeing accords with Moscow in a US election year in which the three main presidential candidates have called for a more wary approach to the country.
The nuclear co-operation agreement was endorsed by George W. Bush, the US president, last month at a summit with Mr Putin, Russian president at the time, and Mr Medvedev.
Officials say that the deal, which Moscow has long sought, is not only intended to bolster the two countries’ ties after a time of strain, but was also offered by the US as an incentive for Russia to sign up to the latest United Nations Security Council resolution censuring Iran over its nuclear programme.
Moscow in March duly supported the UN resolution, which includes milder sanctions than Washington had first wanted.
A number of US congressmen have argued that Russia should not be rewarded with the nuclear agreement when its co-operation over the Iranian nuclear dispute has been much less than Washington had wanted and while Moscow continues to collaborate with Tehran.
“The Bush administration has not received enough support from Russia in dealing with Iran to justify moving forward with this agreement at this time,” said Howard Berman, the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee.
The deal will become law unless Congress passes legislation to block it within the coming months.
Edward Markey, a Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts, last week introduced a resolution in the House to block the deal. “Russia’s nuclear, missile and advanced conventional weapons co-operation with Iran makes it absolutely inconceivable that the US would enter into nuclear co-operation with Moscow,” he said.
He challenged the administration’s argument that the agreement was necessary to set up an international nuclear fuel bank in Russia. The idea of such a facility, intended to dissuade countries from developing highly sensitive nuclear technologies, has won broad international support as a non-proliferation measure.