Signing Ceremony With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Far Eastern Federal University
Vladivostok, Russia
September 8, 2012
MODERATOR: The
Secretary of State of the United States of America Hillary Clinton and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov are
signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the
United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on
Cooperation in the Antarctic and a Joint Statement on Strengthening
U.S.-Russian Inter-Regional Cooperation. (Applause.)
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV:
(Via interpreter.) (Inaudible) whole continent (inaudible) the example
of constructive cooperation between U.S. and Russia in this area where
interests of both countries match. The memorandum provides for regular
consultations between the foreign ministers – Foreign Minister of Russia
and State Department on implementing the arrangements of the agreement
on Antarctic of 1959 and further cooperation of our – between our
countries and the relevant international fora. We will continue
cooperation in scientific research as well as exchange of experts,
exchange of information, expanding interaction, and ensuring expedition
activities. This document reflects a mutual interest in continuing
inspections of the stations of our countries to demilitarize the
Antarctic region and implement environmental requirements. The first
such inspection took place in January of this year on the bases of the
American station McMurdo. The next inspection is scheduled -- I mean,
the joint Russian-U.S. inspection is scheduled for the end of this year
and will take place on the bases of the Russian station
Novolazarevskaya.
We hope that it will be fruitful as well. On the
whole, the memorandum demonstrates the interest of our states in joint,
mutual, beneficial work in the whole area of Antarctic issues, and the
regional -- the Statement on Inter-Regional Cooperation affixes the
positive experience accumulated in this area and sets our regions in the
-- and sends us in the direction of promotion on the behalf of
government, the development of the continuation of (inaudible). It's a
priority in our cooperation since it covers the (inaudible) citizens.
Today
we have adopted the statement which has had to be signed on the need of
further completion of work on the natural reserve of Beringia between
Chukotka and Alaska. The statement, as well as the documents that we
have signed will be available, and I hope that you will get acquainted
with them. I would like to thank Secretary of State for our joint work
and hope that it will continue in the future.
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Thank you very much, Foreign Minister Lavrov. And I am delighted to be
here, and I thank you for the constructive outcomes of our work together
as we sign our Memoranda of Understanding today.
I also want to
thank United States Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones and
Special Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis for
helping make today’s agreement and statement a reality.
During the
past three and a half years, the United States and Russia have deepened
our cooperation to address shared challenges. We adopted a New START
Treaty, we increased trade and investment, and supported Russia’s
joining the WTO. And we’re taking three more steps to do work together.
First,
we are formally deepening our scientific cooperation in Antarctica, a
continent with vast opportunities for research. Scientists from both our
countries will work together to explore Antarctica’s terrain, study the
effects of climate change, and cooperate on a range of issues to better
understand and protect our shared environment.
And for the first
time, U.S. and Russian officials and scientists are working together to
enforce the Antarctic Treaty. They are, as Sergey said, inspecting
foreign facilities and looking for violations of the treaty and
environmental commitments. This treaty was signed in 1959, so this
effort is certainly worth celebrating.
The second step we’re
taking is designed to stimulate economic growth by harnessing the
knowledge and skills of our two nations’ global leaders. We are signing a
Joint Statement on Inter-Regional Cooperation to encourage greater
collaboration at all levels of our governments. Regional and local
officials will host trade delegations and introduce businesses to new
markets. And when it comes to economic growth, local partnerships can
have global impacts.
Finally, we’re issuing a joint statement that
signals our desire to collaborate more closely in the region where our
countries are only miles apart, a segment of the Bering Strait we refer
to as Beringia. With this statement, we are underscoring our intent to
link the United States national parks in Alaska with the soon-to-be
designated Beringia National Park. Our goal is to finalize this
arrangement in the coming months so park managers and researchers from
both countries will be able to increase their efforts to conserve this
unique ecosystem as well as the cultural traditions and languages of the
indigenous people on both sides of the strait.
Let me also
mention one more example of Russian-U.S. cooperation which has special
resonance this weekend. Tomorrow our historic visa agreement will come
into force. It will facilitate travel between our nations, which will
strengthen both people-to-people ties and business contacts. It is
fitting that this agreement will come into force during APEC. Business
communities in our countries repeatedly ask us for visa liberalization
to make it easier for them to work together, and we are happy to be able
to deliver.
So this is another very important moment in
U.S.-Russian relations. We are grateful for this and other opportunities
to work more closely with Russia on areas of common concern that will
deliver benefits to the people of both our nations.
So, Minister Lavrov, thank you and your team for all the work that led to these agreements.
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV: Thank you.
(Applause.)
