"We discuss this issue [with the US] regularly. Some time ago we agreed that there would be no closed issues on our agenda and that we could ask each other any questions expecting honest and frank answers," Mr. Lavrov stressed. According to him, the two presidents boast such relations.
"The summit in Bratislava proved that the presidents could be on common ground, in particular, on complicated issues. However, we should never forget about the key problems, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and regional conflicts," Mr. Lavrov noted. During the Bratislava summit George Bush did not seem to have any doubts in Vladimir Putin's adherence to democratic principles, he added.
Commenting on the recent statements of Russian ex-premier Mikhail Kasyanov on the problems of Russian democracy, Sergei Lavrov said, "We can quote many statements of this kinds but we should distinguish general statements from real facts."
