Moscow ITAR-TASS in Russian 1457 GMT 30 Sep 09

Russian press secretary hails "genuine dialogue" between Medvedev, Obama

Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 30 September: The Kremlin is happy with the productive dialogue which is developing between the Russian and US presidents, the press secretary of the Russian president, Natalya Timakova, has reported.

"Good personal contacts and sincere relations have been established between [Russian] President [Dmitriy] Medvedev and [US] President [Barack] Obama, which give them the opportunity to express their positions honestly," she said. "It is very important that it is not simply a familiarization with each other's positions, but a genuine dialogue," stressed the press secretary.

"It's a matter of a willingness to look for compromises rather than bargaining, as it is sometimes presented in the media," added Timakova. "The two sides hear each other, and this brings results," she noted.

Timakova said that interaction between Medvedev and Obama during the Russian leader's visit to the USA last week was not limited merely to their bilateral talks. According to her, both during the UN General Assembly session and during the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, the leaders spoke to each other on several occasions, exchanging their opinions on topical issues.

Moreover, Timakova stressed that at all three meetings between the Russian and US presidents - in London, Moscow and New York - they always held part of their talks one-on-one without the participation of aides.

Speaking about the talks between Medvedev and Obama in New York, Timakova noted that they covered the entire extent of bilateral relations. In particular, according to her, Medvedev told Obama among other things about Russian businessman [Mikhail] Prokhorov's intention to acquire the New Jersey Nets basketball club.

[Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in Russian -- Main government information agency]