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Putin, Bush May Meet on Strategic Stability Earlier Than Planned
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Wednesday that Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush might meet earlier than an expected G8 summit due in July this year because of Bush's Tuesday initiation of US- Russian talks on global strategic stability.
"The question of the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States has been agreed in principle. It is scheduled to take place before the G-8 summit, which is slated for July 20-22 in the Italian city of Genoa, but we do not rule out that now such a meeting may be held even earlier," Ivanov told a news conference.
On Tuesday, Bush telephoned Putin to inform him about his later speech on world strategic stability at the National Defense University in Washington. Ivanov said the two presidents "agreed to have a detailed exchange of views on this important security issue during their first meeting to be held in the near future."
A group of U.S. experts is expected to arrive in Moscow shortly to specify Washington's approaches towards issues of strategic stability stated by Bush, the foreign minister said.
Consultations will be continued during Ivanov's visit to Washington on May 18. Then Putin and Bush will hold a detailed discussion of strategic stability during their meeting.
In Tuesday's telephone conversation, Bush assured Putin that Washington will consult and take into account the interests of other countries, including Russia.
Ivanov said, "Russia is prepared for such consultations. We have much to say."
Moscow "attaches paramount importance to the US President's statement that his administration is not going to make unilateral steps and come up with ready versions, and will consult with its allies, friends and other countries, including Russia," Ivanov said.
He stressed that the discussion of issues of strategic stability should make it possible to work out such approaches that "will serve the interests of both the US and Russia, and the international community as a whole."
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