Colin Powell's Negotiations with Russian Officials in Moscow - 2003-05-14

Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that unresolved differences remain between the U.S. and Russia regarding United Nations sanctions, but the two countries will work closely in the coming days to reach an agreement on lifting the sanctions. Today in Moscow, Mr. Powell discussed post-war Iraq and Middle East peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. At the beginning of the negotiations, the Russian Foreign Minister stated that regardless of any disagreements that may arise, the goal of Russia's foreign policy is a friendly and lasting partnership with the U.S. President Putin also remarked that the differences between Russia and the U.S. over Iraq have not affected the ties between the two countries. U.S. officials indicated that Mr. Powell's discussions with President Putin and Mr. Ivanov revolve around the proposed U.S. resolution at the United Nations, the international peace plan for the Middle East, and U.S. concerns regarding Russia's nuclear cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This resolution grants extensive powers to the U.S. and the U.K. in Iraq and lifts United Nations economic sanctions against Iraq. Moscow had previously expressed its opposition to the discussed resolution.