VLADIVOSTOK, February 14 (Itar-Tass) — The first meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama will most likely take place in London where a G20 summit on the global financial crisis is scheduled for April 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told TV-Centre television on Saturday.
“Medvedev and Obama have talked on the phone two times, and it was not just an exchange of niceties but a discussion on the basic aspects of our relations. Both parties confirmed their position in favour of normalising relations. And as President Obama said, resetting them. President Medvedev also emphasised the intention to ‘start everything anew’,” Lavrov said.
The minister said he had had telephone conversations with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with whom “we are practically negotiating the date of our first meeting where we will have an opportunity not only to exchange views on where we stand but also on how we will implement the two presidents’ commitment to moving further and resetting our relations on a constructive, equal and pragmatic basis. This will give us a chance, among other things, to prepare the first meeting of the presidents”.
In an interview with Vesti Nedeli on Friday, Medvedev said he was looking forward to an open, honest and productive discussion on all themes of bilateral relations at his first meeting with Obama. He believes that the signals that have been arriving from the U.S. president and his administration are evidence of their business-like mood.
Medvedev said he was prepared for such a discussion.
When asked after the interview about the forthcoming first meeting with the U.S. president in London, the Russian head of state confirmed there were such plans.
“I hope that we shall be able to meet to discus all issues on today’s agenda between Russia and the United States. And such issues are many,” Medvedev said.
“I believe that the discussion must be frank and honest and, I hope, it will be productive as well. The signals I have been receiving from the United States, from the presidential Administration, and from the new president personally look encouraging. This is a sign our counterparts wish to work. We, too, hope for this very much,” he added.
