Russian FM urges focus on content of Russian-US relations, not media headlines

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged focus on the content of Russian-US relations, and not on newspaper headlines. “There have been no negative consequences here. Let me state this once again. You say the meeting was canceled. According to the official announcement it was postponed,” Lavrov said after “two-plus-two” format consultations in Washington on Friday. “This was confirmed in the course of our meetings.” A number of important documents had been drafted for the presidents’ meeting, for instance, a common statement on bilateral relations and a statement on stepping up economic and investment cooperation. “It was expected that a meeting of the business community would be timed for Barack Obama’s visit to Moscow. “Also there was a statement on struggle against illegal drug trafficking and on the further activity of centers for easing the nuclear threat and on cooperation in the nuclear and other spheres.” “Also, there were some other agreements that would be presented to the presidents for consideration, including a presidential commission report,” Lavrov said. He recalled that when the two leaders met in Lough Erne last year, Putin called for paying greater attention to people-to-people contacts and cooperation between civil societies, including the cancellation of visas. “We expect, we still expect that at the next presidential meeting it would be possible to adopt a decision to enter into negotiations to speed up transition to a visaless regimen,” he said. “The agenda is very vast and it was confirmed at the meeting,” Lavrov said. “We focus attention to the specific content, and not on newspaper headlines.”