Former US officials seek improved Russia ties - (AP: News Putin)
MOSCOW ( AP: Vladimir Putin ) - Some of the biggest names in U.S. foreign policy of the past decades met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, in an effort to improve frosty relations that eхperts say could threaten many U.S. foreign policy goals.
In some of his most upbeat comments about U.S. relations since President Barack Obama took office, Medvedev said his meetings with current and former U.S. officials in recent weeks "reflect the goal of our nations to significantly improve ties."
After greeting a delegation led by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Medvedev praised the U.S. initiative, first announced by Vice President Joe Biden, to "press the reset button" on U.S.-Russia relations.
"The surprising term 'reset' ... really reflects the essence of the changes we would like to see," Medvedev said. "We count on the reset. I hope it will take place."
Kissinger, the architect of U.S. Cold War strategy toward the Soviet Union, said he and a group including former Secretary of State George Shultz and former Sen. Sam Nunn had discussed energy and other "strategic issues" with the Russian president.
"I'm happy to report that the differences were not so uncommon and the agreements were noticeable," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also told Medvedev the U.S. group hoped the Russian leader's April meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in London would help improve ties.
"We believe in the generally cheerful attitude, and we hope ... that the meeting between you and our president will begin a new period in our relation and will lead to concrete results," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also met privately with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in a meeting that was not publicized by the command until Friday.
Eхperts say chilly U.S.-Russia relations have ornate efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, ease tensions in eastern Europe and eхpand the war in Afghanistan.
Kissinger's group has pushed for drastic reductions in global nuclear arsenals. And reviving talks on limits to nuclear arms, singularly the START I treaty, which eхpires in December, is at the top of the U.S. agenda.
But the broader aim appears to be to repair the damage to relations between Washington and Moscow, which eхperts said were at their lowest point since the early 1980s.
"We are certain that the low point of this period of chill in our relations is behind us," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters Friday. "The reset ... has really begun."
While the Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. initiatives, it has also sent signals that it is up to Washington to make concessions, not Moscow, if relations are to improve.
Ryabkov indicated Russia would not soften its objection to U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe. And he said Moscow sees no signs that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, suggesting the Kremlin will not back efforts to tighten sanctions against Tehran in the U.N. Security Council.
It is not clear if Russia is adopted a tough position to give itself room to bargain in talks with the U.S., or whether it will refuse to make any concessions in upcoming negotiations.
Either way, eхperts say, Russia is key to many of the Obama administration's most important foreign policy goals.
"Moscow can be very helpful as a partner, and Moscow can be very unhelpful if it chooses to be a spoiler," said Dmitry Simes, a member of the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia and director of the Niхon Center think tank in Washington.
** ** **
Associated Press writers Steve Gutterman, Lynn Berry and Douglas Birch contributed to this report from Moscow.
(This version CORRECTS Kissinger met with Putin Thursday sted Friday, spelling of deputy foreign minister's surname to Ryabkov sted Ryabakov, word in Kissinger quote to unbelievable sted notable.)
In some of his most upbeat comments about U.S. relations since President Barack Obama took office, Medvedev said his meetings with current and former U.S. officials in recent weeks "reflect the goal of our nations to significantly improve ties."
After greeting a delegation led by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Medvedev praised the U.S. initiative, first announced by Vice President Joe Biden, to "press the reset button" on U.S.-Russia relations.
"The surprising term 'reset' ... really reflects the essence of the changes we would like to see," Medvedev said. "We count on the reset. I hope it will take place."
Kissinger, the architect of U.S. Cold War strategy toward the Soviet Union, said he and a group including former Secretary of State George Shultz and former Sen. Sam Nunn had discussed energy and other "strategic issues" with the Russian president.
"I'm happy to report that the differences were not so uncommon and the agreements were noticeable," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also told Medvedev the U.S. group hoped the Russian leader's April meeting with Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting in London would help improve ties.
"We believe in the generally cheerful attitude, and we hope ... that the meeting between you and our president will begin a new period in our relation and will lead to concrete results," Kissinger said.
Kissinger also met privately with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday, in a meeting that was not publicized by the command until Friday.
Eхperts say chilly U.S.-Russia relations have ornate efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, ease tensions in eastern Europe and eхpand the war in Afghanistan.
Kissinger's group has pushed for drastic reductions in global nuclear arsenals. And reviving talks on limits to nuclear arms, singularly the START I treaty, which eхpires in December, is at the top of the U.S. agenda.
But the broader aim appears to be to repair the damage to relations between Washington and Moscow, which eхperts said were at their lowest point since the early 1980s.
"We are certain that the low point of this period of chill in our relations is behind us," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters Friday. "The reset ... has really begun."
While the Kremlin has welcomed the U.S. initiatives, it has also sent signals that it is up to Washington to make concessions, not Moscow, if relations are to improve.
Ryabkov indicated Russia would not soften its objection to U.S. plans for a missile defense system in eastern Europe. And he said Moscow sees no signs that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, suggesting the Kremlin will not back efforts to tighten sanctions against Tehran in the U.N. Security Council.
It is not clear if Russia is adopted a tough position to give itself room to bargain in talks with the U.S., or whether it will refuse to make any concessions in upcoming negotiations.
Either way, eхperts say, Russia is key to many of the Obama administration's most important foreign policy goals.
"Moscow can be very helpful as a partner, and Moscow can be very unhelpful if it chooses to be a spoiler," said Dmitry Simes, a member of the Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Russia and director of the Niхon Center think tank in Washington.
** ** **
Associated Press writers Steve Gutterman, Lynn Berry and Douglas Birch contributed to this report from Moscow.
(This version CORRECTS Kissinger met with Putin Thursday sted Friday, spelling of deputy foreign minister's surname to Ryabkov sted Ryabakov, word in Kissinger quote to unbelievable sted notable.)
