Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has met US President Barack Obama at the summit on nuclear security in Seoul and discussed missile defense, Syria and bilateral cooperation, RIA Novosti reports.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Assistant Sergey Prikhodko, Director General of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko, Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak, president’s press secretary Natalya Timakova, Director of the North America Department of the Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Darchiyev represented Russia. The US delegation was represented by US Assistant President for security Tom Donilon, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Deputy Secretary General Bill Burns, US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, Deputy Assistant President Ben Rods, Presidential Assistant for non-proliferation and control over weapons Harry Seymour and Presidential Assistant for Russia Elis Wales.
Medvedev says that the sides may still reach a compromise on missile talks. Experts are currently studying the problem.
Russia wants the European missile defenses to base on equality and trust. Russia does not want to be a passive observer.
The Russian president expressed support for Kofi Annan, special representative of UN secretary general in Syria. He said that escalation of conflict in Syria should be prevented.
Barack Obama noted devotion to negotiations with Iran on the nuclear program with support of six mediators. Iran needs to fulfill international obligations and prove peaceful nature of its nuclear program. The US president said that his country has more nuclear weapons than needed.
The two presidents touched upon economic issues. Medvedev thanked Obama for support in granting Russia WTO membership. The Russian leader noted that Moscow and Washington have a lot of work to do to improve trade-economic relations.
President Obama noted that Russian membership in the WTO is essential for trade-economic ties. He added that he will put effort into lifting the Jackson-Vanik amendment.
In general, Medvedev said that Russian ties with the US have been the best in the decade, despite some aspects of reboot. Obama expressed willingness to visit St. Petersburg.
This has been the last meeting of Medvedev with the US leader as a president. Obama was elected in 2008 and will run for president in November. New Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Obama at the G8 summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin and Obama agreed to meet soon after inauguration on May 7.
