The leader of the YABLOKO party Grigory Yavlinsky expects first and foremost a breakthrough in military and political issues during the summit meeting of Vladimir Putin and George Bush.

Yavlinsky thinks that the key issue is an agreement on Russia's participation in the creation of a global anti-missile defence system.

In particular, in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, May 22, 2002, Yavlinsky noted this that means first of all participation of enterprises in the Russian space industry in the "development of principled decisions on the creation of the global ABM system that the USA has talked about." According to the YABLOKO leader, "if such an agreement is reached, this will lead to the creation of a considerable number of new jobs".

In addition, Yavlinsky thinks that the transition to the development of initially a Russian-European ABM system and then a global system will provide Russia with an opportunity to maintain stability along all its borders.

Yavlinsky also reminded the journalists that Russia borders on "the most unstable regions," and the creation of a joint ABM system with Russia will, according to the YABLOKO leader, be able to consolidate its sovereignty in the Far East, Siberia, its South-Eastern and Southern borders.

Yavlinsky also expects that the impending summit will "confirm Russia's decision to join NATO in "the twenty-twenty" format."

Answering journalists' questions Yavlinsky also stated that the YABLOKO party would not support the initiative of the communists on initiating impeachment proceedings against the government of the RF.

See also:
Russia's ABM Initiatives