DATE=7/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - RUSSIA UPDATE (S&L)
NUMBER=2-252162
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=SINGAPORE
CONTENT=
INTRO: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright held
talks today (Monday) with Russian Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov in Singapore. The two met on the sidelines
of the conference of east Asian foreign ministers --
and ahead of talks in Washington Tuesday between
President Clinton and Russian Prime Minister Sergei
Stepashin. Correspondent Nick Simeone has details.
TEXT: Russia opposed NATO's war over Kosovo and
surprised and irritated the Western alliance when its
troops unexpectedly moved into the Serb province last
month only hours after the war ended. But as Russian
Foreign Minister Ivanov went into a meeting with Ms.
Albright, he told reporters there should be no more
such surprises.
// OPT FOR LONG //
// IVANOV TRANSLATOR ACT FOR LONG //
Mr. Ivanov said Russia is a proponent of a partnership
with the United States. He acknowledged that the
crisis in the Balkans hurt relations, but he said both
countries should now double or even triple their
efforts to repair relations.
// END OPT ACT //
When asked whether he thought it was time for Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic to step down, Mr. Ivanov
said that is something for the Yugoslav people do
decide.
// OPT FOR LONG //
During the two-and-a-half-hour Albright-Ivanov
session, everything from arms control to U-S and
Russian cooperation in Kosovo was discussed. One U-S
official described it as an exhaustive review of
security issues.
// END OPT //
The two diplomats also set up a `hotline' similar to
the secure line of communication established between
the White House and the Kremlin during the Cold War.
(SIGNED)
neb/njs/rrm
26-Jul-1999 12:58 PM LOC (26-Jul-1999 1658 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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