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Clinton addresses EU and Russia Clinton defends thaw with Russia
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is taking questions from young Europeans on her first official visit to the European Parliament in Brussels. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says US re-engagement with Russia does not mean the US is giving way in its support for its allies.
After the Q&A she will meet the EU's top foreign policy officials, in the highest level US-EU talks since the election of US President Barack Obama. Ahead of talks with her Russian counterpart, she told the BBC that Russia should have no veto over Nato expansion and no sphere of influence.
Later she will hold talks with her Russian counterpart, amid hopes for a thaw in US-Russian ties. But she reiterated Washington's desire to start afresh with Moscow.
On Thursday Mrs Clinton said the two countries must work more closely. She was speaking in Brussels, after meeting EU officials and taking questions from young Europeans.
Mrs Clinton arrived at European Union buildings on Friday morning, where she was greeted by Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering. On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially regarding co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan.
She is taking questions about the future of US-EU relations and other matters from students and young people from EU and political institutions across Europe. Mrs Clinton said that was an important decision that demonstrated a willingness to change how the West dealt with Russia.
It's time to explore a fresh start Hillary Clinton, on relations with Russia Pressing the US-Russia reset buttonBlog: Europe's Afghan challenge There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Pressing the US-Russia reset buttonBlog: Europe's Afghan challenge
Then she is due to meet the EU foreign policy "troika" of EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwartzenberg. "We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell.
The issues under discussion are expected to include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and the Middle East, as well as preparations for an EU-US summit on 5 April in Prague. "We have a long list, on both sides, of matters we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation."
Better mood Relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years over Russia's role in the war in Georgia, American support for Georgia's and Ukraine's entry to Nato, and the planned US missile shield based in Central Europe.
But her most anticipated meeting will be with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later in Geneva. Mrs Clinton put some of the blame for that deterioration on the preceding US government of President George W Bush.
Correspondents have detected a better mood between Washington and Moscow since President Obama's election, with both sides expressing the wish for a new start. "There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior administration. How much that contributed to Russian behaviour I think is a legitimate question to ask," she said.
The question is, they say, whether the new atmosphere will be translated into new policies. Russia needs friends
Later on Friday she will hold a much-anticipated meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva.
Mr Obama said this week that he had sent a letter to Moscow linking Washington's missile defence shield with Russia's approach to Iran.Mr Obama said this week that he had sent a letter to Moscow linking Washington's missile defence shield with Russia's approach to Iran.
The US argument is that if Russia helps prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons, there will be no need for the US to build a missile shield in Central Europe, which Russia opposes vehemently. The US argument is that if Russia helps prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons, there will be no need for the US to build its European missile shield, which Russia opposes vehemently.
Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons.Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons.
On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially as regards co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan.
"We can and must find ways to work constructively with Russia where we share areas of common interest, including helping the people of Afghanistan," said Mrs Clinton.
"It's time to explore a fresh start," she said.
Mr Lavrov is likely to press other matters at the meeting, including Moscow's desire for accelerated arms control talks.Mr Lavrov is likely to press other matters at the meeting, including Moscow's desire for accelerated arms control talks.
A Russian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted on Friday saying Russia looked forward to the talks "with cautious optimism".A Russian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted on Friday saying Russia looked forward to the talks "with cautious optimism".
It is very different from a few months ago, when Russia was blaming America for everything from the global financial crisis to the war in Georgia, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow.It is very different from a few months ago, when Russia was blaming America for everything from the global financial crisis to the war in Georgia, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow.
Russia is now in less of a mood to be belligerent, he says.Russia is now in less of a mood to be belligerent, he says.
The financial crisis has left its economy severely battered, and right now it needs friends and investment, not a new cold war.The financial crisis has left its economy severely battered, and right now it needs friends and investment, not a new cold war.
Earlier Mrs Clinton visited the European Union, where she was greeted by Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering.
She took questions from an audience of students and young people from EU and political institutions across Europe.
She was also due to meet the EU foreign policy "troika" of EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwartzenberg.