PM Says Russia Ready For Cooperation With U.S., As Long As It Is ‘Peaceful’

File Photo of Barack Hussein Obama and Dmitry Medvedev with Flags, Shaking Hands

(RIA Novosti – Kirkenes, Norway, June 4, 2013) Russia is ready to cooperate with the USA in a variety of spheres; the key is for them to be peaceful, Russian Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev has said.

“We are prepared for various forms of cooperation. The only thing is that – which is very important – it has to be peaceful cooperation,” Medvedev said in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).

“Even considering the fact that we belong to different military-political groups we could well build peaceful cooperation, without seeking enemies or engaging in intelligence activities, which is what you mentioned. Countries do that anyway, that is absolutely normal, but it should not prevail over peaceful goals, practical goals, and in that sense we are open to cooperation with the USA,” the Russian prime minister said.

Experience shows, he said, that such cooperation is possible. “We have built, or tried to build, such cooperation in recent years in various areas, including the area of the Barents/Euro-Arctic region. Particularly given that we have common interests there. They have to do with joint operations, for example rescue on the water. Same can be said in relation to general environmental situations, the global warming problem, the setting up of nature reserves,” said Medvedev.

He recalled that a reserve of this kind was set up not long ago. “I signed a decree to that effect, and now we are waiting for a similar decision by the Americans,” said the prime minister.

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