Igor Ivanov: Russian And US Positions Have Become Closer On A Number Of Questions

The Russian and US positions have become closer on many questions, but still serious work is needed with regard to other issues, including that of ABM, Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov said on Thursday in Washington when his negotiations with US State Secretary Colin Powell were over. This work, Ivanov said, will be continued, in particular during the Moscow visit by the US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld. According to Igor Ivanov, Moscow and Washington have close positions concerning regional conflicts, the Middle East, combating international terrorism, and political structure in Afghanistan. He also stressed that Russia comes out for the establishment of partner relations with the USA and recalled that at their meeting in Shanghai presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush declared their readiness to open a new page in the Russian-American relations.