OREANDA-NEWS. June 19, 2009. We are receiving queries about how the preparation for the Russian-American summit in Moscow is proceeding. I can say that it is proceeding in a very intensive and thorough manner. The arrangement for Barack Obama’s visit to Russia had been preceded by telephone contacts between the leaders of the two states, by the exchange of messages and, of course, by their first personal encounter in London on April 1 on the fringes of the G20 summit. All of this helped advance fast enough toward a common vision of the Russian-American agenda at this stage and tentatively work through its specific items.

It can already be said that the Presidents in their meeting will discuss practically the full range of relations between our countries, both in terms of bilateral cooperation and in the international dimension.

One of the key themes of the July summit will be problems linked to reduction of strategic offensive arms. Pursuant to the Joint Statement adopted by the Presidents in London, a vigorous negotiation process is under way to craft an accord to replace the START Treaty, set to expire in December 2009. Two rounds of negotiations have been held as of now – on May 19-20, 2009 in Moscow and on June 1-3, 2009 in Geneva – and an interim meeting of experts in Moscow on June 15-16, 2009. The next round is to be held on June 22-24, 2009 in Geneva.

The talks are proceeding in a constructive and businesslike vein. We presume that, at the July summit, the Presidents will be able to announce interim results. Naturally tasks will be set for the long term.

Active work is being conducted to fill the summit’s nonproliferation basket along with working through initiatives concerning some regional aspects of security. It goes without saying that serious attention will be paid to problem areas, such as the United States’ approach regarding deployment of missile defense elements in Europe.

The sides are actively engaged in structuring and devising an agenda for intergovernmental dialogue on cooperation promotion in different fields, including the trade and economic sphere, under the aegis of the two Presidents. This form of collaboration, coupled with the active dialogue between Russian and US business circles, must impart a significant impulse to our bilateral ties.

In the framework of the program for the visit of the US President, a business forum is planned to be held in which representatives of the economic elites of the two countries will take part.

Of course, humanitarian aspects of cooperation won’t be left out, either.

During the upcoming talks, pressing international problems are expected to be discussed in detail, with emphasis on the intensification of practical cooperation between Russia and the United States in the fight against the new challenges – primarily the spread of WMD and their delivery vehicles, terrorism and piracy – and on greater assistance to international efforts in the settlement of regional conflicts. Special attention will be paid to the situation in Afghanistan, where there is particularly great need for an active coordination of international stabilization efforts in the context of the presidential elections scheduled for this upcoming August. It is also important to build up cooperation between Russia and the United States, bilaterally and multilaterally, primarily in the UN Security Council and in the Quartet of international mediators, with a view to advancing the Middle East peace process.

In a word, the intensive preparation is continuing and we hope for the high productiveness of the Moscow meeting.