"The parties confirmed their mutual interest in creating favorable conditions for developing cooperation between the region's states in the political, trade and economic, humanitarian and other areas," reads the ministry's statement.
The Russian party expressed its anxiety about the situation with Russian-speaking citizens of Latvia and Estonia, about the attempts to reduce Russian-language education. It is important that Riga and Tallinn should take into account the recommendations of influential international organizations concerning the unacceptability of double-standard policy in the human rights sphere, it pointed out.
Taking into account the forthcoming admission of the Baltic states in NATO, the parties discussed the possibilities to minimize consequences of the alliance's expansion for Russia's security interests.
"The consultations confirmed mutual interest in further developing contacts between relevant Russian and US structures on the Baltic subject, in using opportunities in this sphere for joint work," the ministry reported.
The Russian party at the consultations was presented by director of the ministry's 2nd European department Alexander Udaltsov, the USA by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Heather Conley.
