Agreements On Strategic Weapons Likely To Be Signed During Vladimir Putin's Visit To USA

US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow does not rule out signing agreements on strategic weapons during Vladimir Putin's visit to the United States in November. The US and Russian Presidents' meeting in Shanghai cleared the way for future possible agreements in the sphere of strategic weapons, the American diplomat told a news conference in Moscow. Asked if he meant signing any documents in this sphere, the Ambassador said everything was possible. Giving his estimate to the Presidents' meeting in Shanghai, Vershbow stressed this meeting was of great importance. According to the Ambassador, the summit consolidated our joint counter-terrorist efforts. In addition to the terrorism problems, the meeting boosted the changes of Moscow-Washington relations established at the first meeting of Putin and Bush in Ljubljana. Besides, the Ambassador pointed out to the constructive conversation of the two presidents on expanding trade and economic cooperation in Shanghai. However, Vershbow acknowledged rather serious contradictions in Moscow's and Washington's opinions. According to him, the fact of the presidents' meeting and the possibility to honestly and openly discuss all the contradictions gives ground for optimism.