Opening Remarks With Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guesthouse Osobnyak
Moscow, Russia
January 26, 2004
FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: Mr. Secretary of State, I am glad to welcome you and all those accompanying you to Moscow. This
is our first meeting in this 2004 year. Last year, I believe that through our joint efforts we managed to move forward
successfully in all directions of our bilateral relations. In the course of the last year’s summit in Camp David between
President Bush and President Putin, conclusions were drawn and further steps were outlined to develop Russian-American
relations. Today we have a good opportunity to discuss the areas where we manage to coordinate in our relations, as well
as the areas where additional efforts are needed to be taken to develop our relationship successfully. Because we have
to keep in mind that our strategic goals are common: building a democratic and secure world order, ad in this context
our cooperation should compliment our efforts to this goal. So, again, welcome to Moscow.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you, Mr. Minister. It’s a great pleasure to be back in Moscow again to this room that I have
spent many hours working in. And I certainly share your assessment that our bilateral relationship is on a very solid
foundation. And I think we can all take heart from the very fine meeting that our two Presidents held at Camp David last
fall. And they gave us solid instructions to do everything we can, not just at the Foreign Ministry level, but between
all the Ministers of our two governments, to expand and deepen our cooperation in all areas. I look forward to a full
day and a half of discussions with you and your associates and President Putin on matters of a bilateral nature,
regional matters, matters of peacekeeping throughout the world, and also to move forward in those areas where we still
need to do additional work. As I said to a number of interviewers lately, (inaudible) that we speak to one another
candidly and honestly about what we (inaudible).
2004/86
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