Peskov on next U.S. State Secretary Tillerson: we aren’t wearing rose-tinted glasses

MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) – The Kremlin is counting on the ability of the next U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to be receptive to arguments pertaining to Moscow-Washington cooperation.

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on abstracts from the speech Rex Tillerson would deliver at the confirmation hearing in Senate, which had been published by the Western media. Peskov answered a question about the Kremlin’s thoughts about those abstracts, considering its earlier ‘rather positive’ comments on the candidate for the next Secretary of State.

“Our positive comments referred to his professional traits, his constructive firmness in pursuit of his interests and his consistency. This does not mean that we are wearing rose-tinted glasses; we understand that Mr. Tillerson will naturally stay firm in his course,” Peskov said.

“At the same time, we would clearly appreciate his readiness to hear opponent’s arguments. From this angle, Russia has always been ready to present its arguments, to convey its standpoint and to explain bottlenecks to our vis-a-vis,” he said.

“As to these publications, let us wait and hear what Mr. Tillerson has to say,” Peskov said.