First meeting of the Russian-American consultative group will be held in US in September

The first meeting of the Russian-American Consultative Group will take place in September in the United States, said official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko on Friday, answering the questions of the Russian mass media.

He pointed out that the agenda of the session was now being worked out. In Moscow's opinion, "the priority themes for discussion at it could be non-proliferation, the implementation of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, transparency and cooperation in the sphere of missile defence," pointed out the Russian diplomat.

According to Alexander Yakovenko, this dialogue will make it possible for Moscow and Washington "to form the programme for joint actions in the sphere of strategic security for a foreseeable future." said he.

The Russian diplomat reminded the reporters that the Consultative Group "has been instituted in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Presidents of Russia and the United States, signed by Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush at their meeting in Moscow on May 24, 2002." It "is called upon to become a main mechanism with the help of which Russia and the United States will strengthen mutual confidence, expand transparency, exchange information and plans and will discuss strategic problems of mutual interest," emphasised Alexander Yakovenko.