"Just like the United States is interested in a strong democratic Russia, Russia is interested in a strong democratic United States of America," Lavrov said, stressing that the positions of the two countries on a whole range of foreign policy issues coincide. "This goes for the fight against terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), regional conflict settlement and ensuring stability for the evolution of democratic states."
Rice said Russia and the United States had no forbidden grounds in discussions.
We have no forbidden grounds, we discuss any issues freely, the US secretary of state said.
"Mention should be made that it is difficult to respond to a general expression of concern about 'the lack of media freedom' in Russia. However, we are ready to take any specific questions," the Russian foreign minister emphasized.
Condoleezza Rice said that by expressing concern about the media freedom in Russia, she did not mean the electronic media, rather the national mass media, such as newspapers and television.
We are not the only country concerned about the situation in this field in Russia, Rice added.
The Russian foreign minister told reporters that today's meeting with his US opposite number covered "the whole spectrum of issues pertinent to the Russian-US relations."
"In spite of unavoidable differences on certain matters, they [the relations] rest upon a solid foundation grounded in the two presidents' agreements, and we intend to promote them further," Lavrov said.
According to Lavrov, Rice and he discussed the implementation of the earlier agreements reached by the presidents and the preparations for their meeting at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the VE-Day in Moscow.
