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Russian-American Relations

Russian federation to the US

Relations with the United States are one of the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy, seen as an important factor in international stability. The key task is to ensure their sustainable, constructive and predictable development, enhance common ground and narrow down differences on the basis of a search for compromises with due respect for each other’s national interests.

The principles of the bilateral partnership dialogue are enshrined in the Moscow Declaration on the New Strategic Relationship signed by Presidents Putin and Bush in May 2002. Priority areas of bilateral cooperation are the following: joint work in the interests of international security and strategic stability, fighting against international terrorism and counteracting new global challenges and threats, including nuclear proliferation, along with promoting the settlement of regional conflicts, developing commercial and economic ties, and expanding intercultural and people-to-people contacts.

An important role in advancing the Russian - US partnership belongs to contacts between the leaders. Since 2001, there have been 25 Russia – US Summits both in bilateral and multilateral fora, including President’s Putin visits to the United States (November 2001, September 2003, September 2005, July 2007) and President Bush’s visits to Russia (May and November 2002, June 2003 - to participate in the anniversary celebrations in Saint Petersburg, as well as the visit in May 2005 to participate in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Victory over the Nazis in Moscow, and November 2006 talks in Moscow, where President Bush made a short stop via route to Vietnam).

 Russian-US Summit in Camp David (September 26-27, 2003) which took place during the official visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to the US (September 24 – 27, 2003) confirmed the positive trend in US – Russian bilateral relations. The Presidents set their government agencies a number of specific long-term tasks to promote the priority areas of Russian – US partnership.

At their meeting in Washington on September 16, 2005, President Putin and President Bush addressed relevant issues of bilateral and international agenda. It was agreed to intensify joint work, Presidents also approved a renewed list of specific tasks for government agencies and took their fulfillment under their own control.

On the eve of the G8 meeting in St.Petersburg another Russian-US summit was held on June 14-15, 2006. Important agreements were reached in several areas of bilateral cooperation including adoption of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

During the recent G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany (June 6-8, 2007) and consecutive informal bilateral meeting in Kennebunkport (July 1-2, 2007) both Presidents had very positive discussions on future prospects of beneficial cooperation in the sphere of peaceful nuclear energy, combating proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The agenda also included such controversial issues as Kosovo and deployment of the US missile defense system in Central and Eastern Europe.

Heads of foreign policy ministries of Russia and the United States maintain permanent contacts to preserve a trusting Russian - US dialogue on relevant issues of bilateral relations and international problems. For the whole period of interaction with the administration of President Bush there have been more than 50 meetings, both in bilateral and multilateral fora.

Military-political issues. The essential part of this cooperation is the development of new strategic relations built on the principles of partnership and mutual respect for each other’s security interests. These principles are codified in the documents signed during President Bush’s visit to Russia on May 23-26, 2002, i.e. the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (came into force on July 1, 2003) and the Moscow Declaration on the New Strategic Relationship. A proactive and meaningful dialogue is pursued on key issues of ensuring strategic stability and international security, primarily, on combating WMD proliferation and international terrorism.

Russia and the US actively cooperate to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on the Non-Proliferation of WMD launched at the initiative of Russia and supported by the US. Russia and the United States also cooperate within the framework of the Proliferation Security Initiative. The main priority of this cooperation is to prevent any attempts by terrorists to obtain WMD and related technologies.

During the Bratislava Summit in 2005 President Putin and President Bush adopted the Joint Statement on Nuclear Field Security Cooperation.

Russia and the United States cooperate on key international and regional issues and seek common responses to new global threats and challenges. Effective interaction to combat international terrorism is carried out during the regular meetings of the Russian - US Working Group on Combating Terrorism.

Regional priorities of Russian - US cooperation include post conflict settlement in Iraq and Afghanistan, conflicts settlement in the Middle East, normalization of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

We are seeing the development of Russian - US economic relations. The United States granted Russia market economy status in June 2002. Russia and the U.S. successfully completed the bilateral round of the negotiations and in November 2006 in

Hanoi signed the Protocol on the accession to the WTO. However, the issue of Russia’s graduation from the discriminating Jackson-Vanik Amendment remains outstanding.

Inter-parliamentary ties are being enhanced and brought to a higher level. Since 2002, more than 50 State Duma and Federation Council delegations have visited the USA. Cooperation continues as part of the Federation Council – Senate working group and joint meetings of the Duma – House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Highlights of bilateral relations include the Russian - U.S. Agreement on Maritime Transportation (June 2001), Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in Law Enforcement Cooperation and Control over Narcotic Drugs (September 2002). The Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Cases came into force in January 2002.A working mechanism of bilateral interaction in combating human trafficking was established in June 2005.The Russian - US Committee on prisoners of war (POW) and missing in action (MIA) resumed its work.Regular consultations are held to work out an agreement on the legal status of special governmental flights, as well as on consular and visa issues and other aspects of the bilateral dialogue.