Russian-American Strategic Security Consulting Group to First Meet in US in September

The first meeting of the Russian-American strategic security consulting group will take place in the US late in September. According to the press service of Russia's Foreign Ministry, the agenda of the meeting is currently being prepared.

Russia's Foreign Ministry believes that the priority topics to be discussed by the group should include the non-spreading of weapons of mass destruction, the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty, and the transparency of any actions pertaining to anti-missile defence. The Foreign Ministry of Russia hopes that dialogue within the group will allow the two countries 'not to lose the dynamic progress of the creation of new strategic relationship, put this into a strictly practical perspective, and, in essence, to formulate a programme of joint action as concerns strategic security in foreseeable future'.

The Russian-American strategic security consulting group headed by Russia's Foreign Minister, the US Secretary of State and the two Defence Ministers was created according to the joint declaration signed by the two Presidents. The declaration concerning new strategic relations between Russia and the US was signed in Moscow on May 24, 2002. The group is supposed to become the principal instrument of strengthening mutual trust and tolerance while discussing strategic plans and exchanging information.