PLATITUDES….

At the Asia-Pacific summit, Prime Minister Putin proposed that Moscow and Washington “develop a cooperative relationship” on money laundering. Putin heard out President Clinton on transfers of Russian military technology to Iran and remarked that such leaks are a threat to Russia as well as to the West. Secretary Madeleine Albright in what was billed as a major policy speech said the two countries stand “side by side” against terrorism. She welcomed “statements by Russian leaders that the explosions do not justify acts of bigotry against any nationality.” And “we have made clear that we will not support further multilateral assistance to Russia unless fully adequate safeguards are in place.”