Russian Security Council Secretary, US ambassador meet

Strategic stability and efforts to combat international terrorism were high on the agenda at a Kremlin meeting Thursday between Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo and the US ambassador to Russia, Alexander Vershbow.

The sides expressed appreciation of positive shifts in Russian-American dialogue over the recent months and a breakthrough in cooperation as regards key aspects of international and regional security, that has to a great extent changed the world.

Following the meeting, Vladimir Rushailo said that Russia and America had an identical approach toward the combat against international terrorism. At the talks, we tackled methods to fight terrorism in Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, he said.

According to the Russian security council's press-service, the sides defined the two countries' common position as long-term, joint activities in response to modern threats and challenges. The formation of a world anti-terrorism strategy is required.

Rushailo is confident that the practice of dual standards should be avoided when it is the struggle against terrorism in all its manifestations that is under review.

"We don't approve of the division of terrorists, like the states, into good and bad, acceptable and non-acceptable. International law enforces supreme judgement for us. It is only the UN that can speak and act on behalf of all the world community," asserted the Russian Security Council Secretary.

He was also firm that Russia would bring the counter-terrorist operation in the Northern Caucasus to its logical end so that the breeding grounds of evil might be uprooted once and for ever.

Anti-terrorism efforts were regarded in a set with issues of consolidation of international security, disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The sides underlined the importance of an agreement achieved by the G8 in Canada on Global partnership in preventing the dissemination of mass-destruction weapons and materials.

Information was exchanged on progress in ratification of a START-3 treaty signed in Moscow during the recent visit of US president Bush, which provided a basis for nuclear disarmament and further consolidation of strategic stability and international security.