It was a crucial element for the Kremlin that Ms. Rice did not visit Moscow during her first tour of Europe and the Middle East in her new capacity. As White House spokesman Richard Boucher said, the secretary would visit friendly countries. Apparently the U.S. no longer views Russia as such, which promises diplomatic frosts. Integrity in bilateral relations is giving way to fragmentariness, when the parties grope for spots they can safely stand on.
Mr. Lavrov spotlighted Russia's accession to the WTO and energy dialogue with the U.S. However unpleasant it may be for the Kremlin, U.S. President George W. Bush is again raising the issue of democratic reforms in Russia. Mr. Lavrov can only confirm that Russian President Vladimir Putin would answer any questions in Bratislava and pose some of his own.
According to Mr. Lavrov, Russia and the U.S. agree that differences should be discussed honestly and frankly, in order to find mutually acceptable solutions.
The discussion of the Yukos saga at the ministers' meeting was described rather strangely. Mr. Lavrov said they "touched upon the issue," while Ms. Rice admitted that the problem should be tackled according to Russian legislation. In this case, why did the Secretary raise the question at all? Or did she want to express her support for Mr. Putin in this delicate matter? American sources point in the opposite direction, stressing the U.S.'s concern over the drawn-out conflict involving the Russian oil giant.
