MOSCOW, May 7 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has denied reports to the effect that the Russian side had allegedly voiced discontent over George Bush's trip to Latvia and Georgia, reads a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Alexander Yakovenko. His statement can be found on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official web site.
On May 6 The New York Times carried an article, which says that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a letter to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, allegedly objecting to George Bush's Latvian and Georgian visits.
In Yakovenko's words, there was no such letter. On the contrary, Lavrov and Rice had a conversation within the framework of their regular opinion exchanges.
"The conversation hinged on complete respect for the US sovereign right to develop foreign ties at its own discretion," Yakovenko noted.
"The New York Times has interpreted this appeal in a biased way, distorting it. Consequently, we suggest that the US side agree to publish it," Yakovenko added.
The Russian diplomat also noted that Sergei Lavrov and Condoleezza Rice had discussed this publication during their phone conversation in the evening of May 6.
" Condoleezza Rice agreed that the sides had exchanged opinions on George Bush's Latvian and Georgian trip in an absolutely normal manner. In her opinion, no aspects of that dialogue could be interpreted as offensive by the US side," Yakovenko stressed.
