MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - When asked at a press conference whether the United States saw Russia as its strategic partner after the latter had sold 100,000 submachine guns to Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. had clearly said they were somewhat alarmed by Russia's arms deals with the country that was not quite stable.
Rice noted the U.S.' dialog with Russia was based on openness. She was hopeful the two countries would take this approach to address emerging problems.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the press conference that Russia's arms sales to Venezuela did not run counter to international law.
