Sergei Lavrov to be good US partner, US ambassador to Russia says

US ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow highly assesses the appointment of former Russian ambassador to the UN, Sergei Lavrov, to the post of the Russian Foreign Minister.

"He is a great professional and a good interlocutor. I know his work in the UN," Mr. Vershbow told RIA Novosti. "I am convinced he will be a good US partner on the post of the Russian Foreign Minister," he added.

According to him, Sergei Lavrov "has always been effectively defending Russia's interests." Mr. Vershbow is convinced that Russia's foreign policy will not change under Mr. Lavrov.

In his words, US Secretary of State Colin Powell congratulated Sergei Lavrov and former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on their new appointments.