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New U.S. Ambassador Comes to Duma
William Burns, the new U.S. Ambassador to Russia, visited the State Duma’s international affairs committee yesterday. He met the committee’s members and answered their questions.
The committee’s chair Konstantin Kosachev greeted the ambassador and introduced him to the members of the committee. The visit was intended to let the Russian lawmakers inquire about crucial issues of the Russian-U.S. relations. Kosachev mentioned that his committee and the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress would meet in the United States on November 3 at the second joint session to discuss pressing problems of terrorism, safety and trade.
The American diplomat made his welcoming speech in good Russia. William Burns said terrorism, AIDS and weapons of mass destruction must be the central issues to be addressed by the two countries. He also assured that the United States would try and promote Russia’s accession to the WTO. In a reply to a skeptical remark of Duma’s deputy, Mr. Burns emphasized that the Bush administration is strongly for the abolition of the Jackson-Vanik amendment that hampers the bilateral trade. “Russia’s accession to the WTO may be a reason to repeal it,” the ambassador said.
William Burns was also asked about America’s growing interest for former Soviet republics. Once the ambassador started to give his opinion on the matter, the press was asked to leave. Yet, as a member of the session told Kommersant, William Burns had not clarified the stateside position, but his visit produced a good overall impression on the Russian committee.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 21, 2005
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