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Rice holds key talks with Putin US, Russia 'to moderate rhetoric'
(19 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is holding key talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have agreed to tone down the rhetoric in public exchanges.
Ms Rice is the most senior US official to meet Mr Putin since he accused Washington of seeking global dominance in a speech in Munich in February. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the two sides had resolved to focus on concrete issues.
On Monday, Mr Rice dismissed talks of a new Cold War, but admitted it was not "an easy time" for US-Russian ties. The high-level talks in Moscow are the first since Mr Putin accused the US in February of seeking global dominance.
The two sides are divided over several issues, including US plans to deploy a missile defence shield in Europe.The two sides are divided over several issues, including US plans to deploy a missile defence shield in Europe.
We always call on our American partners to talk frankly and not try to force their point of view on others Mikhail KamyninRussian foreign ministry
Russia sees the proposal as unnecessary or even a potential threat to its security and US attempts to persuade them otherwise have cut no ice, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow.Russia sees the proposal as unnecessary or even a potential threat to its security and US attempts to persuade them otherwise have cut no ice, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow.
The Kremlin has also expressed opposition to Washington's backing for the independence of Serbia's province of Kosovo.The Kremlin has also expressed opposition to Washington's backing for the independence of Serbia's province of Kosovo.
For her part, Ms Rice has criticised what she sees as democratic setbacks in Mr Putin's Russia.For her part, Ms Rice has criticised what she sees as democratic setbacks in Mr Putin's Russia.
'Positive talks''Positive talks'
Ms Rice is meeting Mr Putin, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, as well as Russian civic leaders. Ms Rice held talks on Tuesday with Mr Putin, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, as well as Russian civic leaders.
Russian officials said they were expecting the talks to be calm and positive. "[Mr Putin] supported the understanding by the American side that rhetoric in public exchanges should be toned down and we should focus on concrete issues," local media quoted Mr Lavrov as saying after the talks.
How defence system worksHow defence system works
"We always call on our American partners to talk frankly and not try to force their point of view on others," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. Ms Rice was expected to try to reassure Russia about the plans to extend the US missile defence shield in eastern Europe.
Ms Rice will be trying to reassure Russia about the plans to extend the US missile defence shield in eastern Europe.
The US opened talks with Poland on Monday over its plans to locate part of its defence shield on Polish soil.The US opened talks with Poland on Monday over its plans to locate part of its defence shield on Polish soil.
The US wants 10 interceptor rockets there to destroy any long-range ballistic missiles fired at the US from the Middle East.The US wants 10 interceptor rockets there to destroy any long-range ballistic missiles fired at the US from the Middle East.
Warsaw has indicated it will back the plan if it improves Poland's security. The US also wants a radar base in the Czech Republic.Warsaw has indicated it will back the plan if it improves Poland's security. The US also wants a radar base in the Czech Republic.
Ms Rice will additionally try to overcome Russia's objections to efforts to help Kosovo on the path towards independence. Russia believes Kosovo should remain part of Serbia. Ms Rice was also seeking to overcome Russia's objections to efforts to help Kosovo on the path towards independence. Russia believes Kosovo should remain part of Serbia.
"It is not an easy time in the relationship, but it is also not, I think, a time in which cataclysmic things are affecting the relationship or catastrophic things are happening in the relationship," Ms Rice said ahead of the talks."It is not an easy time in the relationship, but it is also not, I think, a time in which cataclysmic things are affecting the relationship or catastrophic things are happening in the relationship," Ms Rice said ahead of the talks.
The US believes that Mr Putin has back-tracked on democratic reforms, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington.The US believes that Mr Putin has back-tracked on democratic reforms, says the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington.
But he says that at the same time the Bush administration needs the support of Moscow on a range of issues, including keeping up the international pressure over Iran's nuclear programme.But he says that at the same time the Bush administration needs the support of Moscow on a range of issues, including keeping up the international pressure over Iran's nuclear programme.