US Def Sec calls for security partnership with Russia; Steinmeier comment

(11 Feb 2007) SHOTLIST
AP Television
1. Exterior of street outside of Munich Security Conference building
2. Security outside of conference
3. Interior of conference hall
4. Various of Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani in the conference hall
5. Wide of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates
6. Wide of conference hall
7. Wide of Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
8. Various of Conference attendance
Pool
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"Speaking of issues going back many years, as an old cold warrior, one of yesterday's speeches almost filled me with nostalgia for a less complex time. Almost. Many of you have backgrounds in diplomacy or politics, I have like your second speaker yesterday a starkly different background, a career in the spy business. And I guess old spies have a habit of blunt speaking."
10. Wide of conference
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Robert Gates, US Defence Secretary:
"The real world we inhabit is different and a much more complex world than that of 20 or 30 years ago. We all face many common problems and challenges that must be addressed in partnership with other countries, including Russia. For this reason, I have this week accepted the invitation of both President Putin and Minister of Defence Ivanov to visit Russia. One Cold War was quite enough."
12. Conference attendees listening to Gates speak
13. SOUNDBITE: (German) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister ++partly overlayed with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani,++
"We are now at a crossroad, either we are going to be able to convince Iran and other countries to give up their nuclear ambitions or we will enter into an era of nuclear arms race once again, with unforseen consequences."
14. Mid of Steinmeier
15. Wide of conference
STORYLINE
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) nations must work in partnership with Russia on security matters, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday, a day after President Vladimir Putin blasted Washington's foreign policy and accused it of fomenting a series of wars.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Gates told security officials from around the world that "We all face many common problems and challenges that must be addressed in partnership with other countries, including Russia."
"One Cold War was quite enough." he added.
On Saturday, Putin told delegates the Bush administration had overstepped its national borders in every way through its unilateral and illegitimate actions.
In a harshly worded speech, Putin also blamed US policy for inciting other countries to seek nuclear weapons to defend themselves from what he called an almost uncontained use of military force.
Gates said Putin's speech had reminded him of the Cold War, but said it was time to move on. Adding that he considered Russia a partner in endeavours with the United States.
However Gates did question some of Russia's policies in his speech. Policies that he said seem to work against international stability, such as its arms transfers and its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion.
Other speakers also referred to Putin's remarks.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that many are having difficulty moving past the Cold War phase to shared global responsibility.
Steinmeier also took a swipe at the United States, adding that many in the US are now learning that democracy cannot be imposed by military force.
Steinmeier also questioned whether NATO was the right venue to address all issues facing the trans-Atlantic relations.
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