WASHINGTON, 4 Dec — RIA Novosti, Dmitry Zlatarev. Former CIA Director David Petraeus, who is a candidate for the post of Secretary in the new administration elected President of the USA of Donald trump, thinks that Moscow and Washington can lead the dialogue between them, despite the contradictions.
“Russia is one of the threats facing us and our allies. But we also have opportunities for discussions,” he said on Sunday on air of TV channel ABC.
The Kremlin said earlier that Russia for anybody not a threat, but will not leave without attention, potentially dangerous to its interests. The Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov it was emphasized that Russia will not get involved in it imposed confrontation with USA, NATO and the EU and will be able in all conditions to ensure the safety of the country and its citizens.
Lavrov also reminded that on November 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin and trump held the first telephone conversation in which he confirmed the readiness to work together in the interests of removing bilateral relations out of crisis and resolution of pressing international issues, including countering the terrorist threat. The Russian foreign Minister also expressed hope that “the emerging foreign policy team of the new President will make practical steps in this direction, and collaboration would be constructive”.
In Moscow, he said, is aware that the restoration of full cooperation between Russia and the United States is not an easy task, and to overcome the devastating effects of the anti-Russian course of the Obama administration will need a serious effort from both sides.
Petraeus among the areas for cooperation identified the destruction of the terrorist group “Islamic state” (IG banned in Russia) and a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria.
According to him, the two countries “there are a number of areas where our interests converge”. “And I don’t think that we absolutely exclude the possibility of discussions with the Russians on issues such as the destruction of ISIS and the final resolution of the conflict in Syria,” Petraeus said.
He also said that the “obvious” discussions “Russian support of separatists in the South-East of Ukraine.” Thus, in his words, “strategic discussions” between Washington and Moscow, can address many regions of the world.
Kiev and the West have repeatedly accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraine’s Affairs. Russia denies it and calls such accusations unacceptable. Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to domestic conflict and is not privy to the events in the South-East, is interested in Ukraine overcame political and economic crisis.