Kremlin hopes economic dialogue started by Medvedev will continue in Washington

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 (Itar-Tass) - The Kremlin expects the
Russian-American economic and innovation dialogue started by President
Dmitry Medvedev in California will continue in Washington during the
official part of the Russian leader's visit to the United States.
Medvedev will have talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday.
"We would like the visit to be of innovations-related character,"
presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said. "Politics will undoubtedly be
discussed during the visit, but we would like to ensure that
people-to-people economic relations and contacts are not forgotten either."
"We would like once again to draw attention to the fact that real
processes in the economic field must certainly follow the emerging
positive tendencies in the political sphere," he added.
"According to the understanding reached, main attention during the
visit will be devoted to subjects concerning the development of
cooperation in the sphere of innovations and high technologies," Prikhodko
stated. He said this is precisely why San Francisco and the Silicon Valley
innovations centre were the first places visited by Medvedev, not
Washington D.C.
"The programme for talks envisions a discussion of prospects for
adding substance to trade-and-economic relations between the two
countries, and imparting strategic character to them," the presidential
aide said. "Of special interest in this respect is the opportunity to
integrate the science and technology potential accumulated in the US with
the resources of the Russian market for drawing on it within the framework
of mutually beneficial commercial and other projects, including
participation by the American side in the establishment of the Skolkovo
innovations centre," he noted.
"The aide are also expected to touch upon matters concerning Russia's
accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and aspects that restrain
the development of Russian-American trade and investment contacts,"
Prikhodko said. He recalled that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment still remains
in effect in this sphere. The amendment hinders the provision of Russia
with normal trading relations on a permanent basis.
"The two presidents will most likely discuss the high-profile issue
related to the adoption of children from Russia by U.S. citizens,"
Prikhodko said. "American partners agree with our position that a
bilateral legally binding document on the issue is essential," he said.
"Maybe, a joint statement will be made on that score," the presidential
aide added.
The two presidents will also inevitably devote attention to political
interaction matters. "The presidents are planning to discuss the process
of examination by the parliaments of the two countries of the Treaty,
signed in Prague on April 8, on measures for further reduction and
limitation of strategic offensive arms, proceeding from the earlier
reached understanding on the importance to synchronise the ratification
process to the maximum," he pointed out.
Prikhodko is convinced that "the coming of the treaty into force will
have a favourable effect on strengthening the international
non-proliferation regime, and on giving greater scope to the nuclear
disarmament process, including the creation of conditions for making the
Treaty multilateral in prospect."
-0-zak/