Tasks for Clinton, Yeltsin

Russia is becoming, if never quite a "normal" power, at least a more calculable one. So President Bill Clinton will want to dwell (at this week's summit) on those areas -- stemming nuclear proliferation, for example, -- where Russia and America can now cooperate rather than compete. President Boris Yeltsin will be keen to do the same.

Frictions over Bosnia, and the "friendly" invasion of Haiti, make it harder for Clinton to take up another issue: Russia's bullying of its neighbors. Nonetheless he must do so. Russia has legitimate concerns about the security of its borders and the fate of the 25 million or so ethnic Russians who live beyond them. But legitimate interest do not excuse illegitimate means -- including force -- that Russia has used to defend them. Having barged into his neighbor's affairs, Yeltsin claims to be looking for ways to settle local conflicts, not stir them up (let alone rebuild a Russian empire). In one place -- the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh -- he could demonstrate these good intentions, but so far has not.

Thankfully, the time is past when rows between Russia and America shook the world -- but getting policy toward Russia right still matters a great deal. If his recent performance is any guide, Clinton is anything but well-equipped for the task.

-- The Economist, London