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US, Russia agree to 'reset' ties US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal
(40 minutes later)
The US and Russia say they have agreed to work together on a number of issues of common interest, in an attempt to end months of strained relations. The US and Russia say they will try to clinch a new strategic arms reduction treaty (Start) by the end of 2009.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the relationship between the two countries needed more trust, predictability and progress. "This is of the highest priority to our governments," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Mrs Clinton and her Russian counterpart said Afghanistan, the Middle East and nuclear issues were of most concern. In turn, Mr Lavrov described the current Start treaty - due to expire at the end of this year - as "obsolete".
Mrs Clinton earlier said the US was keen to "reset" its ties with Russia. Mrs Clinton earlier said the Washington was keen to "reset" its ties with Moscow to end months of cool relations.
But she said such re-engagement did not mean Washington was giving way in its support for its allies. After the talks in Geneva, Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov said the two sides had agreed to work together on a number of issues of common and world interest, but admitted that differences in their positions remained.
On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially regarding co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan. Mrs Clinton said the relationship between the two countries needed "more trust, predictability and progress".
Before the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva, Mrs Clinton gave him a mock "reset" button as they began talks in Geneva. The two top diplomats also said they had discussed a number of issues of particular concern, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Korea.
'Long list' Before the talks with Mr Lavrov began, Mrs Clinton gave him a mock "reset" button, as a symbol of Washington's desire to start afresh with Moscow.
Earlier, America's top diplomat told the BBC that Russia should have no veto over Nato expansion and no sphere of influence, but stressed Washington's desire to start afresh with Moscow. Disagreements
Mrs Clinton was speaking after meeting EU officials and youths in Brussels. Speaking earlier in Brussels, Mrs Clinton said President Barack Obama's re-engagement with Russia did not mean Washington was giving way in its support for its allies.
Mrs Clinton said the US and Russia had to start afresh Mrs Clinton had a busy schedule in Europe
Mrs Clinton said that was an important decision that demonstrated a willingness to change how the West dealt with Russia.
"We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell."We're going to press the reset button," she told the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell.
"We have a long list, on both sides, of matters [where] we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation."We have a long list, on both sides, of matters [where] we're going to try to seek some areas of co-operation.
"Our efforts against terrorism, our efforts on behalf of arms control and non proliferation. Discuss areas where we think that we've got to understand each other better and try to eliminate the friction - energy security, climate change, things like that."Our efforts against terrorism, our efforts on behalf of arms control and non proliferation. Discuss areas where we think that we've got to understand each other better and try to eliminate the friction - energy security, climate change, things like that.
"But," she added, "there are areas where we just flat out disagree, and we're not going to paper those over."But," she added, "there are areas where we just flat out disagree, and we're not going to paper those over.
There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Pressing the US-Russia reset button "We will not recognise the breakaway regions of Georgia, we do not recognise any sphere of influence on the part of Russia, and their having some sort of veto power over who can join the EU or Nato," she asserted. There was a rather confrontational approach towards Russia in the prior [US] administration Hillary Clinton Pressing the US-Russia reset button
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. "We will not recognise the breakaway regions of Georgia, we do not recognise any sphere of influence on the part of Russia, and their having some sort of veto power over who can join the EU or Nato."
Mrs Clinton put some of the blame for that deterioration on the preceding US government of President George W Bush. On Thursday, Nato agreed to resume high-level contacts with Russia, especially regarding co-operation over the Nato mission in Afghanistan.
Relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years over Russia's role in the war in Georgia, American support for the entry of Georgia and Ukraine to Nato, and the planned US missile shield based in central Europe.
Mrs Clinton placed some of the blame for that deterioration on the preceding US government of President George W Bush.
"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."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.
Russia needs friendsRussia needs friends
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.
As with Russia, so with Iran and Syria - the hand of friendship is being proffered in a very obvious, high-profile way Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor Blog: Young Europeans quiz Clinton 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.As with Russia, so with Iran and Syria - the hand of friendship is being proffered in a very obvious, high-profile way Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor Blog: Young Europeans quiz Clinton 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.
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 earlier 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.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 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.