Saturday, February 07, 2009

AFP, Washington, Feb 5, 2009 (excerpts) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated Thursday she would consult more with Russia about efforts to curb Iran’s sensitive nuclear work after talks with her French counterpart Bernard Kouchner.
’On behalf of our mutual concerns regarding Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, we are going to use smart diplomacy together to engage the international community,’ Clinton told a press conference.
’We will do so including Russia as a cooperative partner because we intend to forge a more constructive relationship,’ said Clinton, standing next to Kouchner during his visit to Washington.
US ties with Russia, a key player in the drive to stop Iran’s sensitive nuclear work, hit a low in the last year as president George W. Bush pressed plans to expand NATO and set up an anti-missile shield in eastern Europe.