USA: RUSSIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER IGOR RODIONOV WELCOMED TO PENTAGON
(13 May 1997) Natural Sound Russia's Defence Minister Igor Rodionov was given a formal welcome to the Pentagon on Tuesday, before beginning two days of talks with his American counterpart. The discussions with U-S Defence Secretary William Cohen are expected to centre on relations between Moscow and an expanded NATO. U-S officials say they're looking to bolster ties with the Russian military, despite differences over plans to expand the alliance. Washington rolled out the red carpet for Russia's Defence Minister with a formal welcome on the Pentagon's parade grounds. Once the ceremonies are over however, the mood is likely to darken with Russia still highly suspicious of American motives in the eastward expansion of the NATO military alliance. The Helsinki summit in March between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin, helped to clear the air on the issue - but a great deal of talking remains to be done. The Russians are also on a learning curve - looking to see how a military machine is run in a market economy. The senior officers travelling with Mr Rodionov will be looking for help on unfamiliar subjects such as budget control and recruitment. The Russian minister will spend most of Tuesday in meetings with Cohen and other Pentagon officials, returning Wednesday for a session with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his visit, Rodionov will also attend a discussion of the Pentagon's budget process as well as participating in a round table meeting with Army officers who helped reform the service after the Vietnam War. The visit is Rodionov's third to the United States, but his first as Defence Minister. He previously travelled to the United States as head of the Military Academy of the General Staff. That was a position he held for more than six years before being appointed to his ministerial post in July 1996. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
