Clinton and Lavrov "reset" Russian-US relations (Roundup)

Mar 6, 2009, 21:14 GMT

Geneva - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to 'reset' the relationship between the two countries and start work on negotiating a new nuclear arms reduction treaty.

'We are hopeful that this first meeting will lead to others and improve our ability to work together on a range of matters significant to our two countries and the world,' Clinton said after the dinner meeting in Geneva.

She said the 'top priority' was negotiating a follow up to the START treaty between Russia and the US which aims to reduce their nuclear arsenals. It expires on 5 December.

'We intend to have an agreement by the end of year. This is of the highest priority. We are going to get to work immediately,' said Clinton.

'We will do everything to reach an agreement,' said Lavrov.

Also on the table during dinner was nuclear proliferation, including Iran and North Korea, arms control, Afghanistan and the economic crisis.

'There is no time to waste on a number of these significant challenges. We will begin work immediately to translate words into deeds,' said Clinton.

'I am confident that in the future we will try and reach agreements, results, enabling us to bring closer diplomatic solutions to such matters,' said Lavrov.

On the issue of missile sales to Iran, Lavrov said Moscow only supplied 'its partners with defensive types of weapons.'

Iran was discussed at length and Lavrov said that dialogue with Tehran was required to solve the thorny issue.

'We are currently conducting a broad based policy review on potential steps to be taken to persuade and prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons,' said Clinton, adding that she was keen to hear advice from Russia.

That struck a positive note with Lavrov who said he appreciated the willingness of the new US administration to 'listen to other countries.'

'This is a just the beginning,' said Clinton during the joint press conference, and looking over at Lavrov added: 'and this was, Sergey, a good beginning from my perspective.'

As the two walked into their dinner, Clinton handed Lavrov a small object with the a single word in Russian on it. The word was supposed to say 'reset' but instead read 'overload.'

While the faux pas created much laughter, the two also said it highlighted the fact that they had plenty on their plate.

'We have no desire to get rid of any part of this overload,' said Lavrov.

The administration of US President Barack Obama said it wants to restart its relationship with Russia.

In Brussels on Thursday NATO agreed to resume the NATO-Russia Council, which was frozen last summer following the war in Georgia.

The status of two regions that broke away from Georgia following the war was one issue the ministers said they still had differences on, as was Kosovo, and Clinton said Moscow and Washington needed to improve the trust between them.

Lavrov issued a thinly veiled criticism at the US for supplying Georgia with military capabilities.

While the two foreign ministers briefly met in Egypt recently for a donor conference on Gaza, this was the first official meeting between them and was the highest face to face talks between the countries since Obama became president.

Obama would likely meet the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of a major economic summit in London at the beginning of April. The two have been in contact and have exchanged letters.

Lavrov and Clinton said they began laying the basis for that meeting during the talks in Geneva, including on the nuclear reduction treaty, which would be discussed in London.

While Clinton was immediately heading to Turkey, Lavrov was to address the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations Geneva office on Saturday morning.