Russia and the United States Intend to Increase Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Safety

U.S. and Russia plan to boost cooperation in the field of nuclear safety and non-proliferation. This is said in the statement of the official representative of the National Security Council of the White House, Caitlin Hayden, released at the end of the bilateral program of “Megatons to Megawatts”.

The White House spokeswoman noted that the program has provided U.S. NPPs with fuel which amounted to “almost 10 % of the total electricity generated in the United States over the past 15 years.” “The United States and Russia are going to remain focused on boosting this success, and they will continue to cooperate in various fields of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and research,” – added Hayden.

Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Discuss Bilateral Relations

Bilateral relations and important international issues have been discussed by the Foreign Ministers of Russia and China, Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Monday. “The sides discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the most important international and regional issues,” the ministry informed.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum’s summit in Bali (Indonesia). Lavrov also plans to meet during the forum with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Surapong Tovichakchaikul. Earlier on Monday, the Russian foreign minister held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, at which the sides focused on the situation in Syria.

US Businesses Show Interest at Russian Innovation Week

U.S. businesses’ growing interest in stronger cooperation with Russian companies and specialists was one of the main results of the Russian Innovation Week, director-general of the Russian Venture Company Igor Agamirzyan said on Wednesday.

The Russian Innovation Week was unveiled in Boston on September 17 to move to the Santa Clara Valley also known as Silicon Valley in northern California until September 20. The event was organized by Russia’s state-run nanotechnologies corporation Rosnano, the Russian Venture Company and the Skolkovo innovation hub.

He noted that practically all large transnational corporations had opened their research and engineering centers in Russia, what “proves to be a great achievement.” “Through engineering centers corporations bring to Russia process management and quality development practices. Thus, they support the development of human capital in those areas, which are scarcely embraced by Russian companies.”

Russian Prosecutor General’s Office and the U.S. Justice Department to Sign a Cooperation Agreement

On the sidelines of the international conference of prosecutors, which is taking place in Moscow, there was held an additional meeting between representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office.

“The parties continued to discuss the pressing issues of interagency cooperation, particularly in the spheres of combating crime and protecting human rights. During the talks there was made the decision to sign an agreement on cooperation between the Ministries of the two countries,” – the statement said.

The American delegation was led by Deputy Attorney General Bruce Swartz, the Russian delegation was represented by Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Zvyagintsev.

Department of State: Russia and the United States to Discuss the List of Participants in “the Geneva-2” at the Meeting in the Hague

U.S. hopes to discuss with Russia the list of participants in the peace conference on Syria, “the Geneva-2″at the upcoming meeting which will take place next week in the Hague. This was confirmed on Monday by official representative of the U.S. Department of State Jen Psaki.

The Department of State spokesperson stressed that the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have been discussing the situation in Syria “on a regular basis”. She recalled that such a discussion took place, in particular, on August 9, during the negotiations of the heads of diplomatic and military ministries of the two countries in Washington. As noted by Jen Psak, the U.S. side at the talks will be represented by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and U.S. Ambassador to Damascus Robert Ford.

US Tactical Nuclear Weapons Must Be Withdrawn from Europe – Russian Defense Ministry

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov has called for withdrawal of US tactical nuclear armaments from the territories of non-nuclear countries and dismantlement of the related infrastructure.

“As an expert on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) I have a question why nuclear armaments are deployed on the territories of non-nuclear countries. What is the nuclear weaponry control system of NATO states? In my opinion, this is a violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the NPT,” the deputy minister told reporters on Wednesday.

Tactical nuclear weapons deployed in NATO states in Europe may be rapidly relocated towards Russian borders, which actually makes them strategic, he said.

“We think that the United States and, obviously, NATO countries must decide on the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons to the US territory. But this would not be enough. There is also military industrial and technological infrastructure in West European countries. We think this infrastructure should be destroyed,” Antonov said.

Ministry of Defense Believes in Constructive Dialogue in “Two Plus Two” Format

The Russian Ministry of Defense expects that the consultations with the United States in “two-plus-two” format will be held in a constructive way, it’s planned to discuss several problems, including those that “do not let us move forward,” and in the first place the missile defense, told reporters Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on Thursday.

The meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Russia and the United States, with the participation of Russian Defense Minister Gen. Sergei Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be held on Friday.

“Despite the new peculiarities in Russian-American relations, we hope that the consultations will be held in a constructive way and will determine further steps to strengthen strategic stability. Many expect precise results from this meeting, because what the cooperation within the Russia-NATO Council will be like, as well as the situation in the world as a whole will depend on whether the Russian Federation and the United States agree”, – said Antonov.

Department of State: U.S. Do Not Want That Snowden Case Had a Negative Impact on Relations with Russia

U.S. still do not want that the situation around Edward Snowden had a negative impact on US-Russian relations. This was stated by deputy head of the U.S. State Department press service Marie Harf.

Washington continues to convince Moscow that former U.S. intelligence officer Edward Snowden “is not a human rights activist and is not a dissident,” and asks to assist in his return to his homeland, where he faces “serious criminal charges,” said Harf.

US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Meeting to Discuss Media Cooperation

Current problems and prospects for the development of modern media space will be discussed by the participants in the fourth meeting of the Sub-Working Group on Mass Media of the US-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission, which is opening in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

It is planned to hold several plenary sessions during the forum. They include the issues of “perception of the United States and Russia through the prism of mass media,” “evolution of professional journalism: citizen journalism,” “evolution of professional journalism: education with a focus on investigative journalism.” In addition, the experts will discuss prospects for journalist exchanges between the two countries.

The US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission was established by the Presidents of Russia and the United States in 2009 to promote cooperation in the spheres of culture, education, sports and information. More than 60 Russian and US government agencies participate in its work.

Russian, US Specialists to Continue Consultations on Meat Supplies on August 14-15

Russian and US specialists will continue consultations on the conditions of the supply of meat and meat products to Russia on August 14-15, which were interrupted in February 2013 over the use of ractopamine in the US.

The phone conversations, which involved experts from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), lasted two days and ended on Wednesday, Rosselzhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) reported.

The US specialists presented programs that are expected to guarantee that ractopamine and other beta-antagonists will not be used in the production of meat products intended for export to the territory of the Customs Union.