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Skriven 2005-05-09 23:34:24 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0505093) for Mon, 2005 May 9
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Press Briefing by Secretary Rice and Russian Federation Foreign Minister
Lavrov on the Meeting with President Bush and President Putin
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 9, 2005

Press Briefing by Secretary Rice and Russian Federation Foreign Minister
Lavrov on the Meeting with President Bush and President Putin



PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY RICE AND RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOREIGN MINISTER
LAVROV ON THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT PUTIN Putin
Residence Moscow, Russia MINISTER LAVROV: Good evening. I would like to say
that at the talks that have just taken place between the U.S. and the
Russian Presidents, they discussed bilateral and international issues. As
far as the international issues are concerned, the focus was on the
situation in the Middle East, with regard to which we have very close
positions. We expect a lot from the Quartet ministerial meeting that will
take place tomorrow. They also discussed the situation around Iran, the
DPRK, Afghanistan and Iraq. And they reaffirmed the willingness to prevent
the jeopardizing of the WMD non-proliferation regime. They also emphasized
their determination to fight terrorism and they reaffirmed that you cannot
flirt with terrorism. They also discussed the ascension of Russia to the
World Trade Organization. They registered the progress that has been made,
and also they reaffirmed the task that was set in Bratislava to reach an
agreement by the end of the year. They also discussed the reform of the
United Nations, including the reform of the Security Council, and the State
Secretary and I have been instructed to stay in close contact with regard
to this issue. This meeting has demonstrated once again that for the two
Presidents there are no forbidden topics. They have shown the readiness,
and they are actually discussing everything in an open, friendly and
partner-like manner. SECRETARY RICE: I have very little to add to what the
Minister has said. The two Presidents did talk in a very open way about the
many issues around the world. I would just underscore that we spent a good
deal of time on the Middle East, and I think that we have some guidance for
our Quartet meeting tomorrow. We focused a lot on the upcoming withdrawal
of the Israelis from the Gaza, and the need to fully support Mahmoud Abbas
and the Palestinian Authority as they prepare for that withdrawal. And on
terrorism, I think to underscore that they talked about the need -- that
one cannot flirt with terrorism or with terrorists, I think was really the
essential issue here, because they are very concerned about the Palestinian
situation and other situations in which terrorism could undermine the
chances for peace. And we promised to consult on the needs of the
Palestinian security forces for training and equipping. And, finally, the
President talked to President Putin about his recent speech and the
comments that he had made about internal reform in Russia. And I think it
simply, again, underscores that there is -- these two men have developed a
relationship in which they can talk about any subject, and talk about it in
a constructive and friendly manner. Q My question is to Mr. Lavrov.
Vike-Frieberga said that President Bush did not discuss during his visit to
Latvia the issues relating to ethnic minorities in Latvia. Can you comment
on that? MINISTER LAVROV: We actually read the transcript of President
Bush's speech in Riga, and actually, in that speech, a lot was said about
the fact that democracy means not only elections, but a whole range of
commitments and obligations that include the obligation to protect the
rights of national minorities. When I heard the statement by the President
of Latvia that you mentioned, I thought that maybe that speech had actually
not been made. So I double-checked with the Secretary of State, and she
reaffirmed that that speech had been made. Q Secretary Rice, you talked
about open and constructive talk, that they can talk about most subjects.
And I attempted to ask the President earlier about whether he can trust
President Putin now, if the atmosphere is one of total trust. How do you
see it? Do you think there's any doubt? SECRETARY RICE: First of all, this
is an excellent relationship between these two men, at a personal level and
also as Presidents of these two great countries. I believe they believe --
they feel that they can discuss anything. And I would characterize the
relationship as absolutely straightforward. They say what they think, they
say what they mean, and then they act on that. MINISTER LAVROV: Thank you.
SECRETARY RICE: We want to go and have dinner. Thank you. END
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