Washington, Sept 28: The United States and Russia have decided to focus on practical ways to broaden and deepen their `new strategic relationship' to deal with the challenges and opportunities of the new century. In a joint statement issued after talks between Presidents George W Bush and Vladimir Putin at Camp David yesterday, the two sides stressed on the need to make progress in implementing the strategic offensive reduction treaty existing between the two countries, expanding military cooperation and improving economic relations.
The Presidents agreed on the next steps in a number of areas to strengthen the existing US-Russia partnership, issuing specific instructions to their respective governments identifying tasks to be undertaken by the appropriate agencies, the statement said.
In particular, they identified key areas where progress might be made in the near term, including, among other issues, implementing effectively the strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (treaty of Moscow), and continuing efforts to increase transparency and build confidence on strategic issues.
Military and counter-terrorism cooperation, strengthening commercial and economic relations and strengthening collaboration in dealing with regional problems were also discussed.
They also discussed a broad range of international issues, including preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the situations in the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea and strengthening the Nato-Russia relationship. Bureau Report