Senior Russian official reveals details of Putin, Obama talks
Interfax
July 7, 2009
Yuriy Ushakov, deputy head of the Russian government staff, who took part in the meeting between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama in Putin's country residence at Novo-Ogarevo on 7 July, has highlighted the main issues of the talks speaking to journalists, as reported by Russian news agency Interfax on the same day.
In terms of the missile defence system (ABM) that the USA intends to deploy in Eastern Europe by 2013, Obama promised Putin to take into account the concerns of the Russian Federation to a greater extent, Interfax quoted Ushakov as saying. "No clear promise has been given by the American side, but the process of consideration of the general situation is in progress; it will be over in several weeks or months. Obama said that during this consideration Russia's concerns would be taken into account to a greater extent," said Ushakov.
The two leaders also analysed the existing relations between the two countries and discussed the prospects of cooperation, Ushakov added. "Vladimir Putin analysed and assessed the existing situation in our relations; he also analysed the reasons for some failures in cooperation," Ushakov said.
The discussion was held in a "philosophical, conceptual sense", without superfluous details, but "focusing on ways to avoid mistakes that were made in previous years". The talks were "very open and free and were held in a friendly atmosphere", Ushakov said. "The core of our relations was discussed," he added.
The two presidents did not discuss Russia's internal policy, Ushakov was quoted as saying. "Human rights were not discussed," he said and continued: "Issues of internal policy were not discussed at all." On the results of the talks an agreement was reached to continue talks like these in future, Ushakov told journalists. "There was a very friendly, good atmosphere (at the talks), and an agreement was reached that contacts like these, such talks of conceptual nature will be continued," said Ushakov.
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