despite an extremely busy schedule who contributes to international affairs magazine and lectures at his university. hello mr hepworth welcome to the show hell thank you thank you very much for being with us well let's start with the biggest story in russia u.s. relation i mean the missile shield in europe. we all remember that barack obama was caught on tape promising more flexibility to damage human value to former russian president do you think he'll keep the word do you think they'll be more flexibility from the american side understand you in the coming four years i really don't know and this is not because i'm a diplomat i actually. i mean i mean here in the u.s. we don't know anything indian we're going into a shell nothing no nothing. nothing nothing that well truly truly i hope there would be an opportunity to develop something which is different from

previous four years of a standstill. whether it would be possible remains to be seen i don't believe the u.s. administration the obama administration. is it any possible mindset of immediately enter into these type of discussions with russia we are very firm in insisting upon what our two fold position that is we need a legally binding guarantees that nothing. in what is going on in this area is against russian strategic deterrence and second we want. something that would allow us to judge and access on our own whether these statements are true whether they are compatible with reality those two things i very firm we cannot move on those and if the us part won some agreements some

understanding with us they need to adjust that's our view you know you already told us once that one must go once is at least something in writing well do you think that there is something that prevents washington profer it from putting something obligations in writing at least what what what is it the congress the public opinion the allies what. just statements even in rating are not sufficient we soar and we were satisfied and we welcomed when the nato summit in chicago may last produced a statement along the lines in along the lines which i described the problem here is that these statement was not ease not a legally binding one we need an agreement and here is the difficulty because both

as you say the congress. namely the senate when it adopted ratification resolution on the new start the u.s. . allies probably not all of them but most of them and the administration itself made it extremely difficult to move on this particular issue and you know we are somewhat stuck so the movement in chicago was welcomed by russian side but it was not sufficient well let's get back to reset to this phrase that four years ago we all remember the state sector of moscow that big red button it well it played a good picture but i remember you saying in one of your interviews that that reset between russia and america can't last can't last long because a reset is a one time action well that was a very accurate perception do you think do you think it actually happened the reset

did it happen yes i think so reset happened and the results of a reset can never be underestimated i truly believe that the last four years in our bilateral relations relationship with the u.s. were one of the most remarkable periods in terms of deliverables i mean we have in the u.s. the usual backs and force ups and downs everyone the ease you know more or less fine with the with the fact that after an upswing we have a bit of a deterioration what we wanted and what we still want ease to go away from this logic to make constant move forward furthering our relationship as something that dominates today agenda we are not there yet but in terms of what we have achieved during the reset so-called reset reset is in english american. kind of describing this things we haven't developed our own alternative cliché are all terms of

labeled that would resounds and. as as accurately and as positively as reset did nonetheless we think it was a success and jointly we have achieved a whole lot of things i think it may be american but i also always consider the american reset as the translation of the russian perestroika. harris thank you let's go right. i had stephen cohen in this studio a week ago and he is a fan of the democratic administration but what he said was that the so-called reset of a bomb in mid-air he failed because russia said stephen cohen was the only one to make concessions do you think do you agree with mr carro. i don't think. this is the right term to apply concessions rather it was given takes there were compromises if we are about compromises so then we are about

you know something that it goes both ways to a way it's not just one side that gives something. if you examples on those when you start this is a treaty which is equally balanced and which is equally advantageous for russia and the us i don't think even this strongest critics or what is going on in our relationship would dare to claim the opposite secondly if you see visa free travel this is just a case show all where we can get in a reciprocal manner to see that it's both ways similar it whether we have done something in exchange for something on the u.s. part on afghanistan it may be true but no unilateral concessions. in other quote this time this time to this is a quote from the giddyap curve the russian deputy foreign minister who is my guest on the show today you said mr have got that. the.

under start treaty that quitting the start treaty is an unwanted scenario does that mean. that this is a this is a possible option one of the conditions under which russia can really quit the treaty. i think everything can happen in the future including russia's withdrawal from the treaty but this is not a preferred option for us this is what you said yes and once again explain to. everyone who is interested where we are on these and we strongly and firmly believe that the new star is in the interest of both the u.s. and russia what is going on elsewhere and that is in the area of strategic missile defense and global missile defense that the u.s. and its nato and their asian allies develop is

a separate issue in the sense that they do it was not covered by the treaty but it is inseparable issue in terms of logic or strategic stability so if something goes really wrong in there of missile defense and if we not arrive at any arrangement any agreement on missile defense so it would be completely irresponsible for us not to take action in the area of stuff that offensive weapons that are covered by the new star but if russia takes this option if it was to quit this treaty what do you think would be the american reaction and would the american reaction lead to another cold war it's too early to say i will tell you that it is very true that children swerd logic is always there in the area of heavy arms and light arms for that case we would hope that cold war time of this vicious circle type of

thinking where new procurement new deployment immediately you know resounds in countermeasures another side that this is something that is beyond the us but we would not be able just to leave very dangerous and concerning developments in there. of missile defense on that than that without measure without a set of measures that would rebalance the whole situation you once said that one of the biggest problems in the arms reduction talks of the third countries and third nuclear countries which don't take part in the negotiations with countries who are you talking about did you mean the members of the nuclear club or did you mean those countries that presumably do have nuclear weapons but are not yet legally nuclear states i meant both and our position is.

the following about if we are serious about taking further discussions on eventually new additional measures in the area of nuclear disarmament so that we need to draw everyone who is capable in this area all you can weapon states all of them into these talks and into these discussions without that nothing will happen says surrogate quote from russian deputy foreign minister the spotlight will be back shortly we'll take a break and we'll be back with this interview in less than a minute statement. this

was the plant that was responsible for causing the world's worst industrial disaster. had been abandoned in a condition where. the most recent study that was done shows that this water pollution and spreading.

cultures of resistance on our team. we speak your language. news programs. stories. today. these are the images we've been seeing from

canada. giant corporations are today. welcome back to spotlight ironmonger nabhan just a reminder that my guest on the show today said again of course who is the russian deputy foreign minister we've course are discussing the the main problem is the main issues of international relations today and one of them is china and the news is coming from china every day the congress of the chinese communist party the change of leadership in china here you're a field of interest is certainly more united states that that than the orient so no question about the united states there's been speculate a lot of speculations of the worsening of the relations between china and the us

lately. as they get worse so we see that they that they that they have an intention of getting worse will it become an issue in the asia pacific do you share these concerns. we're following the u.s. posturing in asia pacific. for course some would even dare to say this strategic refocus over the u.s. towards asian pacific is something that has been strategically in place for already quite a period it has been officially announced quite recently. moves in different areas supported this idea and i'm not just talking on whatever may happen in the area of naval exercises deployments with all the importance where the bills those things are not just the only things we we see for example the transpacific economic alliance the american involvement in different formats of. corporation

all these you know fits into this broader picture. it will not necessarily mean that we will have them. more difficult asia pacific in the future if we are smart enough and energetic enough to address these things bilaterally and or collectively in due time i hope we will may even benefit from those afghanistan you mentioned again a stand with a couple of minutes ago are among their positions and people at the government understand finally that we have here that should be syrian own genially otherwise there would be no stability fighting will will come again well he will you do you do sound like a diplomat and well calling for a dialogue but but but do you think a dialogue is really still possible when it scale or when it has come to to

a power struggle to confrontation to military confrontation to armed confrontation and each other men to dialogue. it's either or deliberate is geneva a final communique of group on action group of action on syria an important document was adopted there what happened since was time and again the government in syria tried hard to implement these understandings they try to you know move further beyond this current situation of fighting get teary aided humanitarian environment so on so forth their response was just more fun fighting more support from abroad through the insurgence militants this is. you know fully of a possible solution quote unquote into the hands of just one side in all these this

is very unfair i think the international community should be very aware of not repeating very very troublesome scenario from libya that undermines in essence the core of international system decorum international law mr correct me if i'm wrong but. you get an impression that most currently wants to be a many years in the syrian crisis but it's not really welcomed. by the science is that is that correct everyone to whom we speak everyone welcomes moscow's role we will continue we are not going to adjust our policy just because. some our paths are around some comments criticize us we have a very firm believe that what we are doing is right and those people who are in contact with us including from the opposition they are eager to engage and

interesting we hope that finally our views as well as the views of others would impress them the others should do more not to entertain the false you know we lose and among this people that the victories close and they will just win if they continue continue their defiance and not a subject that that. you mentioned early in this interview and i want you to focus on that the more you said you mentioned the visa the visa agreement with the united states washington agrees but nothing happens nothing is happening why what prevents moscow and washington from from starting did the real negotiation to go ahead in this in this area. i don't believe any political decision to start formal talks or with russia on the future visa free travel regime has been taken

in washington in so far and it still remains to be seen whether the obama two administration once these early talks begin we have just put into force of a solicitation agreement which is an important piece. of a treaty. but it's still not not sufficient it's halfway we need to do more especially when russia concludes more and more of these are free travel agreements with many countries around including with many immediate u.s. neighbors in the western hemisphere and they're a for of course to the latin american countries but why moscow in its own discretion why won't it just allow americans visa free entry into russia i mean it may urge washington to the same way no i not believe or in unilateral action or any others or i am truly very firm. believer off risa

prosody and equality and parity especially in a relationship with a country such as you have makes your deputy foreign minister. ok victor boot a few days ago you said that moscow everything you can to make the life of victory in american prison easier when what can moscow do is send him a pizza when. he is being kept in a so-called special block for dangerous dangerous. criminals which is completely and you we can not agree on the type of accusations. and on the type of background for he's for his sentence does want to have a say in that when he's already. kids we continue our contacts and work with the. prison the loftus with the judges with prosecutors and

with a local authorities we work through mr woods lawyer mr de young we work through whatever is available for us in terms of tools and channels to alleviate his situation. to give you an example he was punished according to the prison regime rules for not. in all advising the prisoners authority on his intention to talk over phone with his mother that's incredible. he didn't commit any thing in our view that you know on the pins this is very easy over the situation in which he he's put i do think that the family of mr blue his wife to whom we also maintain

very very close contact. that this people the relatives of mr blyth appreciate the efforts that are being undertaken by the foreign ministry ok thank you thank you very much for being with us and sharing your opinions and just a reminder that was said again and confirmation that before and that's it for now from the spotlight we'll be back with more until then state party to take this in a suitable place in the short term future. commission free accreditation free transport charges free. range mims free risk free studio time free.

download free broadcast quality video for your media projects and a free media oh god our teeth on tom. wealthy british style. market why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with max cause or for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into kinds a report on our cheat.

you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so. you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else and you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything is ok. i'm tom harvey welcome to the big picture. let's.

listen. that's.