OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2008. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on December 18 met with US Senator Richard Lugar.

During the conversation, current issues in Russian-US relations were touched on, along with the prospects for cooperation in disarmament, nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. There was noted on our side Lugar’s personal role in working out constructive approaches and decisions relating to WMD nonproliferation and disarmament.

In the light of an upcoming change in US administration soon, Lugar stressed the need for a constructive continuity in bilateral relations, the preservation of the positive developments amassed in recent years and continued strategic dialogue with a view to finding solutions which would help reinforce stability and security in the world.

Certain regional problems also were touched on. The coinciding interests and similar positions on some of them were highlighted – Middle East settlement in particular. Mutual opinion was expressed about the desirability of expanding and deepening interaction on international problems as a whole.

In discussing the block of economic issues, the interlocutors pointed out that there are serious prospects for the further building-up of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Touching on the consequences of the world economic and financial crisis, they accentuated the need for coordinated collective actions to surmount it.

During the conversation, the substantial role that the parliaments of both countries are called upon to play in advancing Russian-US relations was noted. Richard Lugar underlined his readiness to promote their further development.