Following the talks, signed a package of documents on missile defense, further reduction of strategic offensive arms, military cooperation, cooperation in the nuclear field. In particular, signed a "Joint Understanding on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRESS ___________________________________________ 121200, Moscow G-200, Smolensk - Hay Sq. 32/34, tel. :( 495) 244-4119, fax: 244-4112 e-mail: dip@mid.ru , Web-address: www.mid.ru     NEWSLETTER

7 I July 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS	P.
Message I press service of the Russian Ex ezidenta
Held talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev President of the United States Barack Obama, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009 Beginning of meeting with US President Barack Obama	3
Joint press conference with the President of the United States Barack Obama following Russian-American talks, the Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009	4
Joint Statement of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on nuclear cooperation, Moscow, Kremlin, July 6, 2009	10
Joint Statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on Afghanistan, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009	12
Joint Statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on missile defense, Moscow, Kremlin, July 6, 2009	13
Joint Understanding on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009	13
Information about the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission	14
The documents adopted at the end of the Russian-American talks, the Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009	15
The conversation Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with the President of the United States Barack Obama, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 7, 2009 Start conversations with the President of the United States Barack Obama	15
Message I press service of the Russian Ex avitelstva
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to the 43rd US President George Bush's birthday, July 6, 2009	16
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with the President of the United States Barack Obama, July 7, 2009   Transcript of the meeting	16
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with the chairman of the German trade union "IG Metall" Berthold Huber, July 7, 2009 Transcript of the meeting	16
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
About the State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek	17
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Saltanov with the Ambassador of Lebanon Assem Jaber said in Moscow	17
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Yakovenko, "Rossiyskaya Gazeta", July 7, 2009	18
On the exchange congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Russian-Bulgarian diplomatic relations	19
On the exchange of notes, defining the status of the Russian-American Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing	20

Message I press service of the Russian Ex ezidenta

Russian President held talks D .A. Medvedev and President of the United States Barack Obama, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009

Following the talks, signed a package of documents on missile defense, further reduction of strategic offensive arms, military cooperation, cooperation in the nuclear field.

In particular, signed a "Joint Understanding on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms."

Signed intergovernmental agreement on the transit of weapons, military equipment, military equipment and personnel through the territory of Russia in connection with the participation of the armed forces of the United States in efforts to ensure the security, stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The parties signed a framework document for the development of cooperation between the armed forces of Russia and the United States, as well as a memorandum on the approval of the work plan to improve military cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries in 2009.

Decided to create a Russian-American Presidential Commission for Development Cooperation. This new coordination mechanism for the development of bilateral cooperation in return for pre-existing Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission.

The parties signed a memorandum between the Ministries of Health of Russia and the United States, and exchanged notes on the Russian-American Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing Persons.

After the talks, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama gave a joint press conference.

In the evening, in the suburban residence of the President of Russia in Gorki an informal dinner in honor of US President and his wife.

Beginning of meeting with US President Barack Obama

Medvedev: Mr President, Mr Barack Obama!

I would like to welcome you to the Kremlin, the US delegation.

This, of course, an important event in the history of Russian-American relations. We hope that as a result of our work today, tomorrow's work, full two-way communication, we will close a number of difficult pages in the history of Russian-American relations and open a new page.

Our countries face different challenges that we now work together to solve: these economic problems, the problems of international security, the problems of the limitation of strategic offensive arms.

I think that throughout this agenda, we have all the chances to make important and necessary decisions, and I am very pleased that we can do it, I hope, in the near future.

Once again I would like to welcome you and wish you success in our business.

Obama (As translated): Let me first thank President Medvedev and the entire Russian delegation for the wonderful hospitality.

We are confident that we can move forward based on the excellent discussions that we had in London. For a variety of issues: security, economy, energy, environment - between Russia and the United States have more in common than what distinguishes them. If we put our efforts and will work hard in the coming days, I think that we will achieve good results and progress.

So we are looking forward to a good meeting and thank you, Mr. President, and the whole Russian people for the invitation to come to Russia.

Medvedev: Even the weather is conducive to such dialogue, because the street is cool, so there is an opportunity to work as it should.

Barack Obama: Yes, it's better to be inside the building. The last time I was in Moscow, when it was 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

<...>

Joint press conference with the President of the United States Barack Obama following Russian-American talks, the Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009

Medvedev: Dear ladies and gentlemen! Dear representatives of the media, colleagues!

Just completed our negotiations with the President of the United States. The first visit of the President of the United States Barack Obama in Russia was very busy. The first day showed that we were able to walk almost all areas of our agenda, and it was very extensive.

I would like to say from the outset that there was a very useful and very open business conversation. It was, no doubt, that meeting, which have been waiting and in our country and in the United States and on which depends not only the future of our countries, but in many ways and trends, prospects of world development.

I would like to emphasize once again one thing. Indeed, the first day of negotiations, our meeting in a tête-à-tête and enlarged, were open and sincere. And this is very important. We have agreed that we will continue to communicate in that way. And in fact, our relationship is very important, and maybe somewhere not easy, because the backlog of problems in recent years, very, very considerable. But we had enough and mutual aspirations, desires, and those positions of principle on which we stand, and we will stand to discuss these problems in a constructive, businesslike manner, and we went to mutually beneficial results.

I would like to emphasize the fact that each of our countries, of course, in their own way understands his role, but at the same time aware of its role and its responsibility for the situation in the world, especially at a time when the level of globalization has reached such dimensions, such parameters that of our decisions often depend on the situation as a whole. And such powerful states as the United States and the Russian Federation have a special responsibility for everything that happens on our planet.

We have a lot in common, many common interests - and global, economic, and very different, very, very, very different. But the desire to discuss these topics really was mutual, and this is also one of the important outcomes of our meeting, our communication, because the work that we do, and requires good will and mutual respect, and honest account of each other's positions.

We also concluded that the US-Russian relations, but rather made ​​today their level does not correspond to their potential, not match the capabilities of our countries. And most importantly, the level that has developed so far, does not meet the needs of the modern era. And without the active development of our relations on the international agenda on trade-economic, scientific, educational and cultural ties, we can not build a normal way into the twenty-first century.

We spent a few hours of dense, intense, absolutely specific negotiations. At the same time we stopped and known issues philosophy of cooperation, and I am grateful to the President of the United States, my colleague, for the understanding of the principles that we promote and, accordingly, our attention to those proposals that makes the American side. Therefore, despite the fact that, of course, we can not for a few hours to remove the load of all the problems that have been accumulating for a long time, we have agreed that we will go without stopping, we'll move on, to take the decisions that are necessary to the development of relations between our countries.

We discussed very specific questions and would like to share some of them with you. Of course, we talked about international issues, we talked, for example, of such complex topics as the Middle East peace process and in this regard agreed to work on and in view of the visit to the Middle East, which we were recently, and in view of the plans, we talked about in anticipation of a number of major events. We discussed, by the way, and the possibility of holding the Moscow conference on the Middle East.

We talked about a very important topic, which is essential to coordinate our actions mean Afghanistan. And without collaboration in this area, in all probability, success in this area is achieved. And on this occasion agreed a special statement.

Strengthening our relationship, of course, should promote communication and in the humanitarian sphere, in the scientific field. This is a must do, and we will certainly do it very clearly and emphatically.

Now a few specific results of the negotiations, they are known to you. We have agreed on an important topic, I mean the new agreement on strategic offensive arms. This is a basic element of our mutual security. The work was intense. I must admit that our teams, our delegations worked on this topic productive exercise reasonable compromise. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the negotiations and who else will be involved.

The result of this is that we came not only on the mutual understanding of how we move forward, but at a basic level, in which we will promote further cooperation in this field. We agreed on thresholds as carriers and warheads, referring to the fact that this topic is absolutely specific.

In the Joint Understanding, which we have just signed with the President of the United States, refers to the possibility for our countries have from 500 to 1,100 carriers of strategic nuclear weapons and from 1500 to 1675 warheads. These are the new parameters within which will be held today and dialogue and through which we hope to reach a final agreement, which will have a new structured document in a new agreement.

We also agreed that the offensive and defensive means of both countries must be considered together. We have adopted a joint statement on missile defense. And it is also an important result. Even with the understanding that for a variety of positions we still have differences, however, we managed to reach a joint document, which has been adopted by the endorsement.

We discussed measures of cooperation in the nuclear field. The most important thing - is that we will continue our cooperation in all areas of our countries very much depends. We have signed, as I have already mentioned, the agreement on military transit to Afghanistan. We decided to create a presidential commission on cooperation, which will coordinate the relationship between the various departments, between departments of the United States and the Russian Federation in all priority areas, including, of course, the direction of economic and military direction.

Military direction of these issues will be engaged in just the heads of the General Staff, who signed the document here - this is Mr. Makarov and Mr. Mullen. Soon all these documents will be published, you will be able to see them.

In general, describing the first day of our work and the results of the negotiations that took place today, I would like to say that I regard them as the first but very important step in the process of revitalizing full-scale cooperation between our countries, from which must win both states, and if both win state - will benefit all.

I would like to specially emphasize in conclusion of his opening remarks that our country would like to reach a level of interaction with the United States, which is really worthy of the XXI century, which will ensure international peace and security. It is in our interest and we are grateful to our American colleagues for their co-operation. From the joint leadership of Russia and the United States really depends on the decision of many world problems.

Obama (As translated): Good evening!

I want to thank President Medvedev and the Russian people for their hospitality. Michelle and I and our children are very happy to be here in Moscow, at this early stage of my administration.

We just finished a very productive meeting. As just said President Medvedev, President and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States for some time drifting. We decided to really make a "reset" our relations in order that we can cooperate more effectively in areas of common interest.

And today, after less than six months of cooperation, my administration, we have done just that, and we have taken decisions on a number of issues for future progress. I think it should be noted that we have taken decisions on key priorities, which are very important for security and prosperity in both countries.

Firstly, we have taken important steps forward to increase nuclear safety, to stop the spread of nuclear materials. And besides, we agreed to reduce our own nuclear arsenals. We are nuclear powers, and we need to lead others by example.

We signed a document of understanding concerning the contract, which will replace the previous treaty on strategic offensive arms. This contract will be completed this year. We also agreed on a joint statement on cooperation in the field of nuclear safety, which will enable us to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. We can move forward in the discussion of this at the summit of "eight." These are important steps in the implementation of those measures, of which I spoke in Prague. We must also make sure that other countries to fulfill their obligations. So we had a discussion about North Korea and Iran. North Korea has violated international law and their obligations. Therefore, I am grateful to Russia for participation in the UN resolution, which is taking serious steps toward North Korea. Iran is also a very important issue, he did not fulfill its international obligations. This is a big problem for the United States because it could be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that would be a threat to global security, and Iran's nuclear programs are also a big threat. Therefore we cooperate on missile defense and a joint assessment of threats in the XXI century, including the threat posed by Iran and North Korea.

Secondly, we have taken important steps to strengthen our cooperation. President Medvedev and I agreed that we need to deal with the threat of extremism, particularly with Al Qaeda. Today we signed an agreement on the transit of military equipment through Russia to Afghanistan. This is a very important contribution by Russia to our international effort, it will allow us to save time and resources in support of our armed forces. Thanks to Admiral Mullen and his Russian counterpart, we also agreed on the continuation of military cooperation between the two countries, the resumption of this cooperation, and it will allow us to better cooperate and achieve interoperability of our armed forces in the fight against terrorism and piracy. We also agreed to restore the joint committee, which deals with matters of war and missing persons. It is very important for our armed forces.

We have also taken steps forward to expand cooperation in areas related to the security and prosperity of our peoples. We are forming a presidential commission, in order to strengthen such cooperation. Too often in the past we have worked only on narrow issues, and our bureaucracy hindered progress. That is why we will be working groups on economy, energy, environment, arms control, energy security, the fight against terrorism and so on, including civil society, science and technology, space, health, education and culture. This work will be coordinated by Mrs. Clinton and Minister Lavrov. Mrs. Clinton will arrive this fall in Russia in order to continue this work.

And as an example. There is a new memorandum of understanding in the field of health. Here we are talking about swine flu, which threatens all, and that is why our Department of Health and Human Services is working with its counterparts in Russia in the fight against infectious diseases worldwide.

And finally, Russia has taken an important step to lift restrictions on cattle from the United States, because we are talking about $ 1.3 billion.

And besides, we also discussed with President Medvedev those issues on which we still have differences. In particular, we discussed the issue of Georgia. I repeated our conviction that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia must be respected. We also do not agree with each other on the borders of Georgia. But none of us are interested in a military conflict. Therefore, we need to resolve these differences peacefully.

President Medvedev and I definitely want to leave the competition in the past and move forward. Today, we have moved forward and word and deed. I think, in the twenty-first century, our relationship should look more constructive, should include business, civil society, the dialogue between Americans and Russians. I think we are all interested in the fact that in the future Russia and America have been partners for the sake of security and prosperity. This is why we reset our relationship.

And once again I want to thank President Medvedev and his entire team for what they have received so wonderful and so effectively work with us.

Question ("Assoshiayted press"): Good evening!

President Obama would like to ask about trust after serious disagreements, after a period of controversy, and in view of the action plan, which you are presented, as you see, do you trust now President Medvedev? And what do you think, who now heads Russia - President or Prime Minister Putin?

President Medvedev, I have a question for you - polls show some perhaps unpleasant feelings among Russians over the Americans. And how President Obama can change this relationship?

Barack Obama: First, this is my second meeting with President Medvedev. We also talked on the phone and we had other exchanges. And taking into account all of our contacts, I believe that he is a man very sincere, truthful, deeply interested in the interests of the Russian people and understand the interests of the American people. I believe that we have found the opportunity to work with each other effectively. Yes, I trust President Medvedev. It can also listen, negotiate and, most importantly, to fulfill the promises that are given.   And I want to thank the President not only for the way in which the President to communicate with me, but also for the way in which our teams meet. Think about the time period from the time of the meeting in London and to this day, and see what we have achieved. All the goals and objectives that we set for ourselves in London - it is a very important and large enough to achieve, and therefore, I think it is a good sign of how we will work in the future and how to make progress.

Tomorrow morning I will have breakfast with Prime Minister Putin. I never met him. As far as I know, President Medvedev - President and Mr Putin - Prime Minister, and they allocate powers, according to its Constitution, in exactly the same way that we allocate power in the United States. So my interest is to work with my colleague, but also the ability to communicate with the Prime Minister Putin and all other influential sectors of Russian society, in order to get a complete picture of the needs, demands and concerns of the Russian people.

My impression is as follows. President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin are working very effectively together. We are interested to work as a whole with the Russian government in order to fulfill all the tasks set before us.

Medvedev: Firstly, I would like to thank President Obama for the words that have just been said concerning the spirit and openness that exists between us. I already talked about this as a reasoned and again prepared to say.

Of course, personal relationships are not major. But without them build normal relations. And it is very good when interstate relations, on the one hand, and personal relationships are in harmony. So I hope that we will continue in the same vein, we will continue to communicate with my colleague - President Barack Obama.

Well, as regards feelings of the Russian people to the American people, it is normal friendly feelings. Another thing is that if there comes a cooling in the political system, if there are problems between the states, of course, is superimposed on the normal perception of the world of those who follow the political process. There's no go. Therefore, the better the relationship between the two countries, the greater sympathy among the peoples of these countries to each other. We remember the wonderful times when our countries have cooperated with each other to solve very complex issues, including the questions, in fact, the maintenance of peace, the restoration of peace in the world. I mean during the Second World War. So, we had difficult times in the relationship, sometimes dramatic. But now there is a realization that from our relationship depends very much. And how we can move forward, how we can make our relationship more precise, more accurate, more adequate current situation, how they can influence global weather dependent and attitude of our people to each other at a constant understanding that nations always treat each other with sympathy.

Question (NTV): Good evening. I have a question for both presidents.

Russia and the United States - the two largest nuclear powers in the world, 95 percent of the world's nuclear arsenal falls to our lot. Work under the Treaty on the non-proliferation regime has been ongoing for more than a decade, and the document itself has existed since the 70s of the last century. Will our countries to keep the situation with the nuclear non-proliferation under control, especially since the recent deterioration of the situation there, we see the spread of nuclear threat in the world?

Dmitry Medvedev: You know, the problem of non-proliferation, it is certainly important for our countries, because we really have to have the primary responsibility for the situation in the field of strategic nuclear weapons. Our countries are the main carriers of nuclear capability and the responsibility to myself for it do not shoot.

Unfortunately, I find it hard to disagree with you - the world situation is changing for the worse, and worse, and it is connected with the emergence of new nuclear players, many of whom have not even signed the "nuclear club", but who ever dreamed about this and do it openly or secretly preparing for this. From this, the world situation is not improving. For obvious reasons, there are regions where the mere presence of nuclear weapons can create huge problems, and it is in these areas we need to work as closely as possible with our American partners. These regions are known, it makes no sense to call them. But everyone knows that on what will be the situation in the Middle East, what will be the situation on the Korean peninsula, depends on the overall climate, the overall situation on the planet. Therefore, it is our shared responsibility, and we must do it as thoroughly as possible. The Russian Federation is ready to do it, and how today's talk shows, as shown by our talks with President Obama, the United States would also like this.

Obama: I think that President Medvedev has expressed very well in this regard. This is an urgent matter. The question, in which both Russia and the United States should take the lead. We must show that leadership, we have to show the desire, first, to deal with their nuclear arsenals in a rational way. That is why this agreement, which will replace the START agreement, will be able to reduce our nuclear arsenals by a third. And we hope that we can reduce these arsenals in subsequent treaties and agreements.

An important question that has just been defined by President Medvedev, is the fact that we see growth potential spread, which was not observed at a certain time, and he also identified regions. In the Middle East there are concerns about the nuclear program in Iran, not only because one country wants to acquire nuclear weapons, but also because if nuclear weapons will be Iran, we can say with confidence that other countries in the region, then will begin to design and develop its nuclear program. And we see that this can happen in the potentially volatile region of the world. In North Korea, we can see that North Korea has abandoned its own commitments and continues to develop its nuclear program. You see, in all these cases the spread of nuclear weapons, which could lead not only to the fact that nuclear states will be able to threaten to use nuclear weapons to citizens of other countries, but also non-state actors may acquire these weapons and threaten.

Therefore, we are pleased to report that both Russia and the United States there is a single assessment of risk, the manner in which nuclear weapons could threaten those countries. We are currently under review in order to determine how the United States and Russia can cooperate together. We also need to develop the existing cooperation in the nuclear materials that are not yet subject to protection. And we will do our best to ensure that all those countries that want to develop peaceful nuclear programs, were able to do it, so that they did not use this knowledge and experience to the development of weapons-grade nuclear programs.

We believe it is important to also nuclear summit, which we plan to hold next year. We discussed with President Medvedev that Russia in the next year can take this summit host. And we invite all countries to participate in the summit in order to all of us together can discuss this important issue.

Q: Thank you. There are big differences over the proposed "nuclear shield", and it certainly worsened in recent years, Russian-American relations, and it seems that you gentlemen have found the denouement of this issue. President Obama, you said quite clearly that you do not accept the link between missile systems and negotiations on strategic offensive arms. Mr. Medvedev, Putin said that this alignment should take place. Tell me, gentlemen, presidents, you will find a compromise on this issue, and how it will affect the final agreement?

Mr. Obama, you think about the actions of the Chinese government in the north-west of the country, where there have been riots, which killed about 140 people?

Obama: With regard to the situation in China, then, unfortunately, I was at various meetings and in the plane, in a way all the time, so I have enough information. However, I assure you that our team as soon as I am aware of the situation, will speak on the subject.

On missile defense. We have agreed that we will continue to discuss this important issue. This is part of a joint statement that we have signed. I also believe that it is absolutely legitimate that we have in our dialogue will talk not only about the offensive, but defensive weapons systems, as this would allow us both to get out of the "cold" war peacefully, because there was a sense of parity and since both sides at a difficult time understanding that the first blow, the first attempt to use nuclear weapons in an armed conflict against another country can lead to a really very serious consequences, very serious consequences. Therefore, any discussion of nuclear strategy, security should include not only offensive, but also the potential defensive weapons. We mainly have focused on the specific details of missile systems. The United States considers a priority that will have to deal with the threat posed by Iran, North Korea or any other state, not from Russia. It is very important for the United States and its allies to be able to prevent such a blow. No, in our view, such a scenario, in which any missile defense system will protect against the mighty Russian arsenal. In this sense, we did not think it would make sense to link the discussion about missile systems, which relate to a completely different threats to the enormous potential that exists in Russia. Having said that, I want to add that President Medvedev has said that Russia is a big concern, it is a very sensitive issue for Russia. I think that tomorrow when I will speak to Prime Minister Putin, he will say   the same thing. And what would we do? We would like to cooperate with Russia in order to it was a system that would ensure that one, or ten, or more missiles, which would have lost the way, and that would have proceeded from a third source, that we have a potential to us to prevent damage caused by these missiles. I think that we can reach such agreements. This, of course, difficult, because there are long-standing suspicions.

As for this particular configuration that was proposed several years ago, as you know, we are now conducting a detailed review of work whether those systems that have been proposed. This work was completed in late summer, and I told President Medvedev that as soon as we finish this review, we will provide the Russian government our assessment that, in our opinion, we should do in the future. This, of course, will be the subject of detailed negotiations. I think that, ultimately, the more progress we can make on some of the issues that I discussed earlier - non-proliferation, the ability to track ballistic missiles   that come from other sources, to the extent in which we build closer cooperation on these issues - the more we will achieve in this area, the more effective will be our cooperation. And I think that we will see that our countries' positions on these issues can be harmonized, applied. And this is very important, of course, in order to protect us from the dangers that are associated with the spread of   nuclear weapons.

Medvedev: I will add on the subject.

Of course, missile defense, or rather, not in itself, missile defense, and the problem of the "third position area" - a rather difficult subject for our discussion.

But I would like to draw attention to what has just said that President Obama and I would also note with his hand. In our joint understanding that has just been signed, according to the relationship between offensive and defensive weapons. And this is a step forward. Some time ago, on this occasion we had a solid differences. Now, this relationship is stated, and it opens up the possibility to ensure that move in bringing each other's positions. This is the first one.

Now the second. Nobody says that missile defense is harmful in itself, or it creates a threat to someone. On the contrary, it is intended to address a number of practical problems. The question is to link certain configuration of missile defense with the interests of other countries. And what I would like to specially mention is the fact that our American partners, unlike what has happened in recent years, took a break and carry out a survey of the situation in which we formulate their final position. As a minimum, this will also step forward in terms of achieving a possible compromise on this rather complex subject. Because before that we have heard only one thing: all the decisions taken, they do not concern you, but they do not threaten you. Our position is somewhat different, you know it well, I will not be one now once again express. We believe that these decisions affect us. These are the questions we will have, in all probability, to negotiate. At the same time we are well aware that the number of threats, including threats related to ballistic missiles with medium-range missiles, unfortunately, is not decreasing but increasing, and we must all reflect on what configuration as a whole could have a global missile defense system, as I am today during our meeting in a narrow circle said to his colleague. So, I think progress is being made.

Q: Good evening. Yuri Lipatov, the first channel. The question for both presidents.

Today was a lot of concern about the situation in Afghanistan. Is it possible to specify the number of the question? What do they think about the situation there presidents, and it is very difficult, at least as we know it? Whether there is a feeling that is experiencing serious problems counter-terrorist operation in Afghanistan? And how, for example, Russian-American cooperation, for example, in the transit area, maybe even in some areas, will make a difference, maybe even break? Now, if you can, a little more detail. Thank U.

Medvedev: The theme of Russian-American cooperation on Afghanistan is crucial, which is why we have paid so much attention in the discussion of this issue in the negotiations, and we have just signed an agreement that concerns transit. This is an important topic and we will continue our cooperation with our American partners.

With regard to the current situation, it is really difficult. I do not want to say that it is degrading, but in any case, progress on many items have not yet seen or it is ephemeral. But we appreciate the efforts made by the United States together with other countries, to prevent the terrorist threat, which came and, unfortunately, still largely comes from Afghan soil.

We are ready in this respect to full-scale cooperation with the US and other partners, including in transit. We are ready to help in different areas. I do not know how quickly the situation changes. The fact that it is largely dependent on how quickly will develop the political system in Afghanistan as the Afghan government will achieve successes in the economy. And there until everything is very simple. Nevertheless, we are ready to continue with his hand the efforts consultation with Afghan partners.

Not so long ago in Yekaterinburg I met with the President of Afghanistan. By the way, I met with the President of Pakistan, because both of these problems must be solved together. And I believe that if we can join our efforts here on the peaceful economic direction, and in the sense of support counter-terrorism operations, the success will come sooner or later. Ultimately, success, stress again will depend on the maturity of the Afghan state and the readiness of Afghan society to change.

Obama: You probably know that as soon as I became President, we conducted a full review of our Afghan strategy, which existed up to this point, with advice not only with NATO allies, but also with all other members of the armed forces, which involved in this operation. We came to the conclusion that we have not made ​​sufficient progress, particularly in view of the period during which we were working in Afghanistan. Therefore, our approach is as follows. We need to install a security system that will allow for the elections in Afghanistan. We need to train Afghan soldiers and police, who will ensure the safety of its citizens.

We also need to undertake diplomatic efforts. And we must also focus on economic development, with a view to the Afghans did not have to grow poppy, but could move to other crops in order to ensure their livelihoods. We have just started to implement this approach, and yet it is difficult to assess progress, but we think that after the elections and after the foot on the role of President Karzai or another candidate, then we can see what efforts can be taken to improve situation.

I can tell you that the participation of Russia and Russia's contribution to this effort is and will be very important. Of course, Russia has its own concerns about extremism and terrorism. Russia also there are concerns about drug trafficking and its penetration into the territory of Russia. In Russia, there are tremendous opportunities to train police officers, soldiers, armed forces, military officers, and therefore, we hope that in the wider participation of the presidential commission, we can more broadly discuss   military mustache Eli in Afghanistan, as well as economic development and diplomatic steps As President Medvedev said, this is a very important point. This is important for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. These issues must be addressed together. We must address these issues on a regional scale. These issues are also of paramount importance for the countries of Central Asia in a strategic sense. It is therefore necessary also to connect them to these discussions and to move forward.

I want to thank again the Russian government for the agreement on military transit. This will allow us to save money and resources, both money and time. This gesture indicates the degree of future Russian participation, contribution and cooperation of the US-Russia, which will allow us to solve a huge number of international issues.

Medvedev: Thank you. See you there!

Joint Statement of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on nuclear cooperation, Moscow, Kremlin,

July 6, 2009

 

The Russian Federation and the United States reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cooperation aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. We have a special responsibility for the safety of nuclear weapons. While we reconfirm that security at nuclear facilities in Russia and the United States meets current requirements, we stress that nuclear security requirements need continuous upgrading. We will continue to cooperate in the field of effective export controls, allowing to prevent nuclear materials, equipment and technology into the hands of unauthorized state actors, as well as their use in any manner contrary to obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Building upon previous joint efforts, experience and achievements, and pursuant to our agreements reached in London on April 1, 2009. We declare its intention to expand and deepen cooperation on a long term basis in order to further improve the safety of nuclear facilities around the world, including by minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium for civilian purposes, and consolidation and conversion of nuclear materials. We also reaffirm our commitment to dispose of existing stocks of weapons-grade materials that are surplus to defense needs, in accordance with our obligations under Article VI of the NPT.

Both parties remain committed to the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the United States of America for the Disposition of Plutonium Designated as plutonium, No Longer Required for Defense Purposes and Related Cooperation in this area for disposal of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium on each side Russia and the United States. The Parties recognize that the successful implementation of the programs of each of the parties will depend on the allocation of funding in the future.

Both sides commit themselves to the nuclear security initiatives, begun in 2005, including the repatriation of spent highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel. To expand on this work, we cooperate with each other and with other nations work to return HEU fuel from research reactors in the agreed time frame as the practical implementation of nuclear non-proliferation. We will continue to work with other countries to ensure the safety and eliminate excess stocks sensitive to the proliferation of nuclear materials around the world.

We will continue to cooperate in the development of new types of low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel for possible conversion of research reactor cores in third countries and to conduct feasibility studies the possibility of conversion of such individual reactors in Russia and the United States. We note the importance of minimizing the use of HEU in civilian purposes and, where possible, maximum support such efforts.

In order to continuously improve the level of nuclear safety and to combat existing and emerging threats, our experts will continue to work to further improve the physical protection systems at nuclear facilities and to ensure the stable operation of such systems in the long term. We will continuously improve physical protection, control and accounting of nuclear materials and radioactive substances and qualifications of professional staff.

Based on our successful bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear safety, as well as the experience and knowledge of both countries in this area, we will work together to strengthen the ability of other countries to fulfill their obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

We express our mutual desire to expand capabilities to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and radioactive substances at the borders of their countries.

Recognizing the important role of safeguards in promoting confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and in addressing proliferation threats, we will continue to work together to expand opportunities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation to strengthen the overall efficiency of the international safeguards system.

We share a common vision for the development of clean, safe, secure and affordable nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Our countries have a lot of things that we can, together with other states to the international community in this area, focusing additional efforts on:

development of promising and innovative nuclear energy systems;

research methods and mechanisms to provide reliable services to the nuclear fuel cycle;

study of international approaches to the organization of nuclear fuel cycle services for the nuclear nonproliferation regime;

improving the system of international safeguards.

As stated in London on April 1, 2009. United States and Russia will work to bring into force the bilateral Agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which is the basis for these and other types of cooperation.

We welcome the expansion and strengthening of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the fifth meeting of the partners, which took place in The Hague on June 16-17, 2009., And are determined to continue to work together to expand national and collective efforts to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism. To this end, we will jointly initiate practical steps, including regional seminars around the world on best practices in the field of nuclear safety, to promote greater international cooperation for the implementation of this initiative.

Joint Statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on Afghanistan, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009

Expressing concern over the continuing conflict in Afghanistan and the importance of strengthening the efforts of the international community to help stabilize the country, as well as promote the democratic process and economic growth, we reaffirm our commitment to the joint struggle against the threats of terrorism, armed extremism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan. We will continue and develop our cooperation in the interest of empowering the Government of Afghanistan to accomplish key socioeconomic objectives, to raise living standards and ensure the safety of its people.

We reaffirm our strong will and capacity expansion of cooperation in the framework of the Russian-American Working Group on Terrorism and intend to make effective use of this mechanism to coordinate practical joint work on all aspects of stabilization efforts in Afghanistan.

We are ready to increase assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in strengthening and developing the capacity of the Afghan National Army and Police, as well as in the Counter-Narcotics Training. In this context, we are committed to the further implementation of the counternarcotics project under the auspices of the NATO-Russia Council, using the International Interagency Center in Domodedovo and participate in the implementation of OSCE projects on Afghanistan in accordance with the decision №4 / 07, adopted in Madrid by the Foreign Ministers of the participating countries the said organization. Performing a UN Security Council resolution 1386 and other resolutions that supplement it, we intend to actively use the transit route through the territory of the Russian Federation for the delivery of property and equipment for the needs of the international forces operating in Afghanistan and strongly welcome and support the participation of other nations in stabilizing Afghanistan.

We believe it is important to intensify the fight against drug trafficking on the territory and outside Afghanistan, including through the creation of alternative livelihoods for farmers and interdiction of narcotics traffickers and preventing the supply of precursors to this country in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1817.

To strengthen the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan in the fight against drug trafficking, corruption, as well as others, including cross-border forms of crime and threats, we consider it important to encourage and support the efforts of the country to implement the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

To further ensure the common problems for our countries to counter terrorism, crime and drug trafficking in Afghanistan, the Russian Federation and the United States agreed to develop a bilateral initiative to increase significantly the financial intelligence and law enforcement tools to combat illicit financial flows associated with the ongoing including the Taliban, as well as organized crime, drug trafficking heroin in Afghanistan. This initiative will include an operational component aimed at drug trafficking and the networks that support it.

We express our willingness to explore issues of Russian-American cooperation and cooperation in the reconstruction of transport, energy and industrial infrastructure of Afghanistan.

We believe it is important to provide the necessary security conditions for transparent and credible people, general presidential and provincial elections in Afghanistan, which have become an important stage in the development of this country as a self-sustaining democratic state and demonstrate the viability of the political system. In this regard, we welcome the increased international support for the Afghan elections and call for additional assistance to Afghanistan after the elections.

We stand for the strengthening of regional approaches to stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan, with a major coordinating role of the UN. In this context, the two countries will cooperate closely in the framework of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and "Paris process." We also note the special importance took place on March 27 in Moscow under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of the Special Conference on Afghanistan and on 31 March The Hague International Conference on Afghanistan, as well as foreign ministers' meeting "eight" on Afghanistan in Trieste.

We believe it is necessary to intensify and strengthen cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan in repelling the common threats of terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. Willing to contribute to the efficiency of such interaction, including through the organization under our auspices, the Afghan-Pakistani summit as it was in Ekaterinburg and Washington. We are committed to implementing the sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 (Al-Qaida / Taliban), and to strengthen existing sanctions regime in order to isolate those who pose a threat to international peace and security.

We support the Government of certain Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for reintegration efforts. These include recognition of the Constitution of Afghanistan, disarmament, and breaking any terrorist ties with Al-Qaeda and other related thereto organizations.

Joint Statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama on missile defense, Moscow, Kremlin, July 6, 2009

In accordance with the agreement reached at a meeting in London on April 1, 2009. Russia and the US are planning to continue the discussion concerning the establishment of cooperation in responding to the challenges of the proliferation of ballistic missiles. Our countries are intensifying their search for optimum ways of strengthening strategic relations based on mutual respect and common interests.

We instructed our experts to work together to analyze the ballistic missile challenges of the XXI century and to prepare appropriate recommendations, giving priority to the use of political and diplomatic methods. At the same time they plan to conduct a joint review of the entire spectrum of means at our disposal that allow us to cooperate on monitoring the development of missile programs in the world. Our experts are intensifying dialogue on establishing the Joint Data Exchange Center, which should be the basis for a multilateral regime notification of missile launches.

The Russian Federation and the United States reaffirm their readiness for equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested countries that share risk assessment of global proliferation of ballistic missiles. We call upon all countries having a missile potential to refrain from steps that could lead to missile proliferation and undermine regional and global stability.

Joint Understanding on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 6, 2009

 

President of the Russian Federation and the President of the United States of America decided to Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms of their countries and the conclusion in the near future a new legally binding agreement to replace the START Treaty, and requested that a new agreement, among other things, contained the following elements.

1. The position that each Party shall reduce and limit its strategic offensive arms so that seven years after the entry into force of the treaty and further limits for strategic delivery vehicles would lie within the range of 500-1,100 and related warheads - within 1500-1675 units.

Specific figures that need to be fixed by these limits in the contract will be agreed in the course of further negotiations.

2. The provisions concerning the calculation of these thresholds.

3. The provisions relating to definitions, data exchanges, notifications, liquidation, inspection and verification procedures, as well as confidence-building measures and transparency, where appropriate, adapted, simplified and made less costly compared to the START Treaty.

4. The position that each Party will independently determine the composition and structure of its strategic offensive arms.

5. Position on the relationship of strategic offensive and defensive weapons.

6. Regulation on the impact of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine launched ballistic missiles nonnuclear strategic stability.

7. Regulation on basing strategic offensive weapons exclusively on national territory of each Party.

8. Establishment of the executive body to deal with issues relating to the implementation of the agreement.

9. The position that the contract will not apply to the existing practice of cooperation in the field of strategic offensive arms between a Party and a third State.

10. Duration of the agreement - ten years unless prior to the expiration of this period, it is superseded by a subsequent treaty on reducing strategic offensive arms.

Presidents instruct negotiators shortly to finalize the agreement so that they can sign it and submit it for ratification in their respective countries.

Signed in Moscow on July 6, 2009, in duplicate, in the English and Russian languages.

Information about the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission

Presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States agreed to establish a Bilateral Presidential Commission, which they will lead. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will co-ordinate its activities. The Commission will include working groups listed below. Additional working groups, including the group on military cooperation in the field of defense, through the Foreign Intelligence and sports relations, as well as, if necessary, within each sub-group and s groups will be established and announced in the coming months. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Moscow in the autumn of this year for the first meeting of the coordinators of the Commission.

The co-chairs of the Commission: President Dmitry Medvedev, President Obama.

Coordinators of the Commission : Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Working groups:

- Nuclear energy and nuclear safety - the head of "Rosatom" Sergey Kiriyenko and First Deputy Minister of Energy D.Poneman;

- Arms Control and International Security substituent Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Senior Deputy Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher;

- Foreign policy and the fight against terrorism - Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns;

- Combating drug trafficking - Federal Drug Control Service Director Viktor Ivanov and director of public policy administration of US President in the field of drug control D.Kerlikovske;

- The development of business relations and trade and economic relations -    Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, Minister of Trade G.Lok;

- Energy and Environment - Energy ministers Sergei Shmatko and S.Chu;

- Agriculture   -   The Ministers   of Agriculture   Yelena Skrynnik and T.Vilsak economy;

- Science & Technology - Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Dzh.Holdren;

- Cooperation in Space - the head   of Roskosmos Anatoly Perminov and the head of NASA (Ch.Bolden passes the approval process);

- Health - Health Minister Tatyana Golikova and Minister of Health and Social Welfare K.Sibelius;

- Cooperation in the field of Emergency management - Ministry of Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu and head of FEMA administrator K.Fugate;

- Civil Society - First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Vladislav Surkov and Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for Russia's National Security Council Michael McFaul;

- Educational and   cultural   exchanges - Special Representative   of the President of   the Russian   Federation   for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi and Senior Deputy Secretary Dzh.Makheyl.

The documents adopted at the end of the Russian-American talks, the Kremlin, Moscow,

July 6, 2009

Conscientious understanding on the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms

Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the United States of America on the transit of weapons, military equipment, military equipment and personnel through the territory of the Russian Federation in connection with the participation of the Armed Forces of the United States in efforts to ensure the security, stabilization and reconstruction of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Framework document for the development of cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the United States of America

Memorandum on the approved work plan to improve military cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the United States in 2009.

Joint Statement on Nuclear Cooperation

A joint statement on missile defense

Joint Statement on Afghanistan

Presidential Action Plan

The decision on the establishment of the Russian-American Presidential Commission for Development Cooperation

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Health of the United States of America

The conversation Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with the President of the United States Barack Obama, The Kremlin, Moscow, July 7, 2009

Start conversations with the President of the United States Barack Obama

Medvedev: I recalled this morning about what we talked about yesterday, and came to the conclusion that we have spent time not in vain. But today I was a little easier, because it is already five hours today, managed to hold a series of meetings, and something that I even had time to look. Performance in the [Russian] School of Economics was very interesting, I liked: systematic exposition position on Russian-American cooperation, views on global processes. And we still have today will be the opportunity to talk with businessmen. This means that the visit turned out in all respects saturated and includes all the elements of the Russian-American cooperation: foreign policy and direction, and our bilateral relations, the economy and the humanitarian sphere. This is very good.

Preparing to travel together to Italy, and there will continue.

Barack Obama (as translated): Today we had a very good day, a good addition to a productive day yesterday. Took a good conversation with the Prime Minister. I think his approach is very similar to yours. We have the potential to do a lot together.

And today it was very nice to attend the graduation ceremony, I saw a lot of talented people. There was attended by the Minister of Finance and Russia, and your economic adviser. These young talented people, I think, can do much to Russia.

Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for the opportunity to meet during lunch with other civil servants. Meeting with representatives of the business community, I think, will be very productive, as both Russia and the United States are expanding their commercial interests. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this meeting.

Medvedev: Thank you.

Message I press service of the Russian Ex avitelstva

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to the 43rd US President George Bush on the occasion of the birthday,

July 6, 2009

The telegram noted in particular:

"In recent years, we're actively working on strengthening Russian-American cooperation. Let between the two countries continued to have differences, but I have always appreciated your candor and honesty. With special warm memories of your hospitality at the ranch in Crawford and your family estate in Kennebunkport . I hope that we will have many opportunities to continue our conversation. "

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with the President of the United States Barack Obama, July 7, 2009

 

Transcript of the meeting

Vladimir Putin : Mr President, I am very glad to see you and welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

The history of Russian-American relations is very old and has different colors: there were years of unconditional prosperity of our bilateral relations in history, were enough gray days and even confrontation.

With your name we pin their hopes on the development of Russian-American relations. We are very happy to see you and welcome in Russia.

Welcome back!

Barack Obama (as translated): Thank you, thank you for taking the time to meet with me. We had a great discussion yesterday with President Medvedev. I know about the wonderful job you did for the Russian people in his former capacity as President and now doing in the current position of the Prime Minister.

I think we now have a great opportunity to put US-Russian relations on a solid foundation.

I think maybe we do not agree about everything, but we will discuss, for reasons of mutual respect and in the interests of Russian and American people.

So, thank you very much. I look forward to a very interesting conversation.

Vladimir Putin: We will prepare breakfast in the Russian style.

Obama: I want to thank the Russian Prime Minister, because we have organized for such good weather in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Obama: Thank you.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with the chairman of the German trade union "IG Metall" Berthold Huber,

July 7, 2009

Transcript of the meeting

Vladimir Putin : Mr Huber, I am very glad to see you in Moscow.

Our relations at the international level are developing very successfully. Between civil society is dialogue. And if it is supplemented by a dialogue between the trade union leaders, trade unions, he already gets finished circuit. We will do everything to maintain your contacts with our trade union organizations.

We know that you are taking an active part in the development of anti-crisis measures. I am sure that we and - at the government level and at the level of trade union organizations - your suggestions, your ideas and your experience will be very interesting. Especially as the German economy, and the Russian economy is not easy going through all the difficulties caused by the global financial and economic crisis.

We very much hope that our cooperation will help out of the crisis. And cooperation between German and Russian companies will continue, despite the crisis, and will help to overcome the crisis. The crisis still has a finish.

We are glad to see you. Welcome back!

B.Huber (as translated) : Mr Prime Minister, let me sincerely thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and talk.

A very important role played by civil society organizations, which include trade unions - they should, we believe, to maintain. I am convinced that the trade unions in Russia and in the future will play an important role.

Union "IG Metall" is interested not only in cooperation with the Russian trade unions, but also to multinational companies that are headquartered in Germany, have invested in the Russian economy, create jobs here and contributed to productive cooperation between our countries.

As you pointed out, the crisis seriously affected both Germany and Russia. I am very interested in the fact that you presented their views on the future prospects of overcoming the crisis in Europe and throughout the world.

Employees in the first place, of course, interested in preserving their jobs. And our Government - Germany and Russia - should help them in this. Stable jobs - it is for millions of people worldwide basis for their further successful living.

Once again, thank you very much for the invitation and for the opportunity to talk with you.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

About the State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek

1094-06-07-2009

On July 6, the Russian Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting of State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Knut Vollebaek in the ongoing 5 to 7 July working visit to Moscow Commissioner.

The focus of the talks was paid to the conclusions and recommendations of the Office of the HCNM on the basis of examining the situation of education in the Ukrainian language in Russia and in Russian in Ukraine.

They also discussed issues relating to the rights of the Russian minority in Latvia and Estonia, and in some CIS countries, particularly in Ukraine and Georgia.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Saltanov with the Ambassador of Lebanon in Moscow Assem Jaber

1097-07-07-2009

July 7th Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Saltanov received the Ambassador of Lebanon in Moscow Assem Jaber said at his request.

Assem Jaber conveyed a message from the President of the Republic of Lebanon Michel Sleiman addressed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The sides discussed issues of bilateral Russian-Lebanese relations. The two sides stressed the existing mindset to their groove and integrated development.

An exchange of views on the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East as a whole. The Russian side expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere in which consultations have taken place on the formation of the new government of Lebanon on the results of the general election June 7 Saltanov informed on the efforts of Russia to resume full-scale Arab-Israeli negotiation process. Lebanese Ambassador expressed a very high score balanced line Russia in Lebanese affairs and in the region.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Yakovenko, "Rossiyskaya Gazeta", July 7, 2009

07-07-2009

Question: What, in your opinion, the main task of higher education at the beginning of the XXI century?

Alexander Yakovenko: Higher education is increasingly seen as an engine of economic development, there is no doubt of its essential role in the creation and sharing of knowledge in order to address the global challenges of our time - from poverty eradication to sustainable development.

We are witnessing a significant growth of interest in higher education. The rapidly increasing number of students. In 2007, there were 152 and a half million, which is 50 percent more than in 2000. In general, the percentage of high school youth worldwide increased from 19 percent in 2000. to 26 percent in 2007 In this case, students today is slightly larger than the students. In Russia, 9 out of 10 families considered obligatory and necessary that children receive higher education.

Most states seeking to follow the example of developed countries, where it is believed that the country's economic growth of 40-50 percent of the population should have higher education. Unfortunately, many developing countries still far from such indicators. For example, in Africa, in spite of the significant increase in the number of students in higher education in recent years, on average, the figure is only 5 per cent.

State has the primary responsibility for the education of its citizens. However, it alone can not meet the growing needs of society.

This explains the emergence of new trends in education and its diversification in accordance with the diversity of needs of different groups of the population and rapidly changing economy, the emergence of new players in the market of educational services.

Private higher education institutions significantly expand access to educational programs and adjust them for urgent needs of the population - the fastest growing sector of higher education worldwide.

Recent studies have shown that in Eastern Europe about 40 percent of students are enrolled in private universities, and their number is growing. Under these conditions, an important aspect of the social responsibility of higher education, the essence of modern quality - to provide the most complete implementation of the potential of every person, his demand for lifelong learning in a changing economy.

Another challenge - the need for the dynamic development of the innovation economy based on knowledge, as a condition for improving the quality of life and social development. From the higher education system requires advancing the production of modern high technologies for the economy together with skills to effectively implement them.

The increasing mobility of students - another global trend today. In 2007, 2.8 million students studied abroad - more than three times more than in 1980.

According to recent forecasts of global student mobility, in 2025 the number of students studying abroad to grow to 7.2 million.

Mobility creates many advantages and opportunities. However, many students do not return home, and such "brain drain" is a great loss to the economy of their countries.

New information and communication technologies also facilitate mobility. These technologies facilitate the implementation of joint programs and joint research, while at the same time mitigating the negative effects of "brain drain".

For example, in 2006, UNESCO and Hewlett Packard Company has launched a joint program to transform the "brain drain" into "brain gain". This project was based on the results of previously conducted experiments in the Southern and Eastern Europe and use new information and communication technologies for communication scholars who remained in the country, with the scientists who left the country.

Question: What are the main objectives of the World Conference on Higher Education?

Alexander Yakovenko: The World Conference - the most significant event in the field of higher education. Its scale is large - more than 1,200 participants from all regions of the world, 4 days, workshops, sections, plenary sessions, "round tables", panel discussions.

Previous global meeting of this magnitude took place in 1998. Thus, the conference will take stock of the work carried out over ten years, and the vector of policy-making in the field of higher education in the future. The focus of the conference will be ways to solve the most important problems of modern high school, such as improving access, ensuring equal opportunities, improving the quality and social responsibility of higher education. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of higher education in developing regions, particularly Africa.

Q: As a global community and UNESCO, in particular, approaches to these problems?

Alexander Yakovenko: UNESCO tries to answer these questions by developing internationally recognized standards, building capacity at national and regional level, analyzing and synthesizing ideas and practices, monitoring and research, recommending and implementing specific projects. To cite just a few examples.

One of the main tools of the policy aimed at addressing the problems of higher education, are six UNESCO regional conventions on the recognition of qualifications.

This Convention, which is currently being revised and supplemented, have been ratified by more than 100 Member States. Together they constitute a unique legal framework of international cooperation and academic mobility, as well as assessing the quality of education. Lisbon Recognition Convention 1997 is the founding document of this concept. This legal document marked a step forward in the recognition of qualifications and to date is the core of the Bologna process, which aims - a common space of higher education in Europe.

Another milestone in international efforts to establish standards of education is the development of UNESCO Guidelines - OECD quality assurance in the field of cross-border higher education in 2005.

Rate the quality of education and to recognize qualifications - always a difficult task. However, UNESCO provides an opportunity to discuss these issues at the Global Forum on International quality assessment, accreditation and recognition of qualifications. Since 2002, the Forum raised various issues of mobility and migration to the integration of education and science.

In 2006, UNESCO launched a pilot project for the opening of the portal recognized higher education institutions. His goal - to provide accurate and complete information about reputable universities of the world. He posted the information on the status of higher education institutions, as well as quality assurance systems in different countries.

In 2008, UNESCO and the World Bank launched a joint project - the Global Initiative for Quality Assurance in order to create an international program to support education in developing countries, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

On the exchange congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Russian-Bulgarian diplomatic relations

1095-07-07-2009

July 7 on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Bulgaria exchanged congratulatory messages between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I.Kalfinym.

The messages expressed confidence that the joint celebration of this significant date in the history of Russian-Bulgarian relations will contribute to further rapprochement of the Russian and Bulgarian peoples, will give an additional impetus to the development of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation. At the same time Lavrov said that Russia impressed balanced and pragmatic line Sofia in international affairs, its attitude to the active multi-faceted dialogue on the entire range of bilateral relations. In turn I.Kalfin expressed the belief that by combining historical, cultural and spiritual traditions of communication between Bulgarians and Russians with a new way of thinking and pragmatic realities, we are able to create very good prospects for the future development of relations and cooperation between our countries and peoples.

On the exchange of notes, defining the status of the Russian-American Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing

1096-07-07-2009

On July 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, an exchange of notes, defining the status of the Russian-American Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing Persons. Thus, in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation and the United States has been issued and secured an agreement on the legal status of this Commission (operated since 1992 on the basis of an oral solution leaders of Russia and the United States).

Was marked by a large amount of work done by the Commission to determine the fate of the Soviet and American soldiers missing or interned during the Second World War, the wars in Korea and Vietnam, the Afghan conflict, stressed the willingness to continue this important humanitarian areas of bilateral cooperation.

In particular, at the summit of the Russian archives were handed over to the American side of the data concerning the fate of American servicemen who were captured by the Nazis during World War II.

In the context of the speech of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev at a meeting of the Russian Organizing Committee "Victory" in St. Petersburg January 27, the US side confirmed its readiness to provide all possible assistance in finding the missing Soviet servicemen and clarifying names buried in mass graves on the territory of other countries.

There was also a fruitful exchange of views on the future directions of the Commission, increase the efficiency of its work.