Russian-American working group will consider the questions of fighting nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism

The Russian-American Working Group on combating terrorism will discuss at its coming session, within the framework of its "extended mandate," the questions of fighting nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism, said official spokesman for the US Department of State Richard Boucher. He pointed out, addressing journalists in Washington on Wednesday, that the decision to extend the mandate of the Working Group was taken by the Presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush, at their May summit in Moscow. The Working Group has become an important forum for expanding Russian-American cooperation in combating terrorist threats all over the world, said the spokesman for the US Department of State.

Richard Boucher underscored that at its coming session the members of the Group will discuss the questions of anti-terrorist cooperation between the two countries not only in connection with the situation in Afghanistan but also because of instability in Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and also in other regions.

The Working Group will gather on Friday, July 26th, in the territory of the United States' main Naval Academy in Annapolis (Maryland) under the co-chairmanship of Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov and US First Under Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Among the members of the Group there is a considerable number of high-ranking diplomats, military men and representatives of the secret services of the two countries, said Richard Boucher.