President Clinton pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday to release an alleged US spy imprisoned in Russia and explored Russian hints about an arms control deal.
Meeting for their fourth time this year and perhaps their final face-to-face talks before Mr Clinton steps down on January 20th, the two also discussed Russian weapons exports to Iran and the Russian economy as well as regional flash-points such as the Middle East and the Korean peninsula in a 75-minute session.
Washington has repeatedly urged Moscow to release Mr Edmond Pope, a former naval intelligence officer turned businessman, who was arrested in April and went on trial on October 18th on charges of obtaining classified weapons information.
Washington says it has seen no evidence against Mr Pope, who has had a rare form of bone cancer, and has called for his release on humanitarian grounds.
"The President expressed his concern about Mr Pope's condition, in particular his health," a senior US official told reporters after the meeting on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit. "We are concerned about the course of the trial and the President again urged release of Mr Pope on humanitarian grounds as soon as possible."
The official said Washington was interested in Mr Putin's recent statement that Russia wanted to retain the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty but was prepared to talk more and cut nuclear warheads to a previously offered 1,500 on each side.
"We're clearly interested in President Putin's statement," said the official. "There are a few new twists that require further study and further discussion at the expert level and that's precisely what the President is committed to doing."
President Clinton earlier this year postponed a decision on whether to build a National Missile Defence (NMD) shield against nuclear missiles which Russia says would undermine the ABM pact and spark a new arms race.