Russian-American meeting within the framework of the dialogue on strategic stability may be set for the next few weeks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper published on Wednesday.
"We will have to determine these dates. But by all indications, it's a matter of weeks, not months," he said. According to Ryabkov, the thematic groups within such a dialogue have not yet been defined. "Not yet. What's important to us is that the presidents have agreed in a major, principled way. We will implement it further," he pointed out in response to a related question.
Moscow is pleased that the Geneva summit managed to launch a focused and energetic dialogue on strategic stability, Ryabkov said.
"I would put it [the statement of the Russian and US Presidents on strategic stability] on a par with the extension of the Treaty between Russia and the United States on measures for further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive weapons. This is Washington's second step toward restoring common sense and a responsible approach to key aspects of international security. We are pleased that we were able to put on paper the intention to begin a focused and vigorous dialogue in this area," the diplomat said. "The specifics of how, in what format and on what topics it will go, we hope to formulate quickly enough together with American colleagues," Ryabkov added.
According to the Deputy Minister, the confirmation of the formula that in a nuclear war there can be no winners and it must not be unleashed is a significant achievement. "We, frankly, in recent years have had increasing doubts about Washington's willingness to doctrinally and conceptually adhere to this only possible and sensible position, if we talk about responsible attitude to the fate of the world," he said.
"When we got to the straightforward, concrete and understandable formula that has been in place for more than 35 years, we experienced, in a sense, a greater sense of inner certainty. After all, this is the only way responsible nuclear states with the largest nuclear arsenals can behave in today's world," continued the Deputy Foreign Minister. - "Any games, ambiguity and pumping of discourse around this issue are not only harmful but also dangerous. Now we have a reference point, a point of reference. In the big political sense, but also in the purely practical sense, this is an important outcome of the summit".
Not an easy task
Pairing of approaches to the new strategic stability agreement with the US would be a complicated diplomatic task but Russia is ready to solve it, Ryabkov said.
He noted that Russia and the US do not have a full coincidence in their approaches to reaching the new security equation. "On the contrary, our impression is that the American approach contains quite different constants than ours. Pairing these approaches, these two formulas will not be an easy task. A task for higher diplomatic mathematics. But we are ready to solve it," said the Deputy Minister.
The high-ranking diplomat considers that taking into consideration the experience of the predecessors and having a clear goal, the sides will be able to move forward in the dialogue on this issue. According to him, along with political will, there should be a creative approach.
"From our side, it will be provided to the fullest extent. There is enough expertise. Interdepartmental interaction is fine-tuned," Ryabkov continued. - "We expect the same high level of professionalism from the American side".
Joint statement
The joint statement of the two presidents, which was published on the website of the Kremlin, said that in the near future "a comprehensive, substantive and energetic dialogue on strategic stability" would be launched. The statement stresses that the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START III), which was recently extended, is evidence of the commitment to nuclear arms control.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS