Interfax: Ambassador Huntsman hoping for more meetings with Russian officials to normalize dialogue

MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) – United States Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman expects to have more meetings with Russian officials to normalize dialogue between the two countries.

“I wish we had more meetings, and we will continue to ask,” Huntsman told journalists in Moscow on Monday.

He said that replies normally come to the embassy and was thus unaware whether any meetings requested had already been confirmed.

“I know Ambassador Antonov in Washington is trying to get his meetings, too. I’ve talked to him about that. It is important on both sides that we have access to senior people, because unless you are talking to people, you cannot create a dialogue and you cannot solve issues together,” he said.

“We’ve had some good meetings, and we will have more meetings,” Huntsman said when asked by a journalist whether any particular meetings were planned.

Asked whether the embassy had received a response from Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s press service, the U.S. ambassador said, “I hope they all will answer. I don’t know yet.”

“I’m happy to meet with anyone who would like to meet with me,” he said.

The U.S. embassy in Moscow said last week that Huntsman wanted to meet with high-ranking officials from the Presidential Administration, the Federation Council, the State Duma, the government, and the Federal Security Service (FSB).