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Only Vladimir Putin had a pen and a notebook with him, to see on the photographs taken before the meeting between the Russian and American President in Helsinki. Trump does not do it.
Former diplomat Carey Cavanaugh thinks it's an important detail. For ten days after this meeting, the US government has still not been officially informed of what has been discussed in Helsinki. In the meantime, members of the Russian government have mentioned a number of agreements that have been concluded.
"No diplomacy without bureaucracy," Cavanaugh says over the phone from his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. "Normally, the departments will receive a written report of what was said in a few days, and then the government can speak with one voice and follow up on the agreements. indication that Trump reported what was said. "
Trump and Putin spoke for two hours, with only their interpreters. After that, they gave a press conference in which Trump expressed doubts about the conclusion of US intelligence that Russia was influencing the elections in his favor. While Washington was excited about this, the Russian government mentioned the results in Helsinki. Putin has made "specific and interesting proposals" on US-Russian cooperation in Syria and on "a referendum" in separatist regions in Ukraine, said Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, and the D & D department. State is eager to say that Reject a Referendum
"Russians are now in charge," says Carey Cavanaugh, who calls it "unbelievable" and "dangerous" that it does not matter. There is apparently no formal settlement on the American side. "In Washington, the director of Intelligence and State Department leadership have no idea what happened, and Congress called the Secretary of State Pompeo to report Wednesday, but it was not in the private conversation between Putin and Trump.It is not sure what was said? "
Cavanaugh studied the Russian and was a diplomat in his two decades. stationed in Moscow, he worked on the preparation and finalization of the summit between the presidents of then Reagan and Gorbachev in Reykjavik in Iceland, in 1986.
Cavanaugh: "Normally, people are co-writing. this base, a report is sent to the ministries.This does not happen now. "He calls it" a scary reality "that Trump liked to meet Putin alone. "Apparently, he does not trust anyone, neither Bolton (Chief of Staff) James Kelly nor James Mattis (Minister of Defense), people he himself has chosen for the sake of it. to help. "
Trump not only harms the interests of the country, but also his own interests. Cavanaugh. "Al Trump's statements on Russia are under scrutiny because of the investigation of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller [naar contacten tussen Trumps campagneteam en Russen, red.]." This would help the president when it became clear that nothing unacceptable had been discussed.
American Interpreter
In order to obtain clarification, the Democrats of the Senate Intelligence Committee attempted to have the American interpreter in Helsinki, Marina Gross, testify last week. Republicans have blocked that. Now Democrats are asking for access to his notes. Cavanaugh: "This puts tremendous pressure on this interpreter and creates an unwanted precedent for future confidential diplomatic consultations, and there is little chance that these notes provide a solution." The interpreters do not make structural notes, they do not. Only write things that they want to remember for a moment, and was the translator there all the time? This should not be the case, because Putin speaks English. "
The diplomat is now a professor of conflict management and is still involved in peace initiatives. He welcomes the renewed dialogue between Russia and the United States. "Russia is important with regard to arms control, the nuclear agreement with Iran and the conflict in Syria, so it is certain that a dialogue with Russia is better than no But it certainly does not have to be at the presidential level. "
Cavanaugh calls it" frightening "that, for Trump," the interests of the country seem to completely coincide with his own interests, just as with a ruler. Trump seems to think that he's personally good, shaking hands with another leader, he will have adequately defended the interests of the US But nothing is less true. "[19659013] CV Diplomat, professor
Carey Cavanaugh (1955) was born in Florida and studied Russian and Soviet studies in Paris. From 1986, he worked in the diplomatic service in Moscow, Berlin, Tbilisi and Berne. In Washington, he worked in the State Department and at the Pentagon. Since 2006, he has been Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Management at the University of Kentucky.
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