US, Russian diplomats seek to ease tensions

Videos
Photos

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-09 20:21

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt -- In what may be one of her last such sessions as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice met with her Russian counterpart in an effort to cool simmering tensions between the two superpowers in the final months of the Bush administration.

From right, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and international diplomatic 'quartet' special envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair attend the Quartet meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008. Mideast mediators have begun meeting in a bid to preserve US-backed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks despite their looming failure to produce a deal by year's end. [Agencies]

Rice, in a meeting the State Department described as "good and productive," hosted an 80-minute discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at her hotel in here.

Despite the length of the private meeting, there was no sign either side had budged on its position on the most contentious issues, notably missile defense, arms control and Russia's war with Georgia.

Neither Rice nor Lavrov made any public comment after Saturday's meeting, which also covered efforts to deal with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, according to department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Lavrov said later that Russia was not satisfied with the latest US proposals on nuclear arms reduction and missile defense and that positions President-elect Obama has expressed provide hope for a "more constructive" approach, Russian news agencies reported Sunday.

Lavrov said there would likely be further consultations on the defense issues with the US this year, but suggested any final agreements would likely come only with the new US administration.

Previous page 1 2 Next Page