MOSCOW, January 28, 2004. (RIA Novosti) -- Former State Duma Vice Speaker, Russia's ex-ambassador to the United States Vladimir Lukin believes that the recent visit to Moscow by US Secretary of State Colin Powell is of particular importance, as it show Washington's mild policy in Russia's respect.
Powell represents the circles speaking for constructive cooperation with Russia, Lukin told a press conference with RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
According to Lukin, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz show "tough administrative policy" in Russia's respect.
"Automatic trust between Russia and the USA, which emerged after September 11, 2001, has been reduced," Lukin said.
In his opinion, most Russian-US contradictions are connected with Washington's misunderstanding of several aspects of Russia's foreign and domestic policy. Different approaches to the situations in Chechnya, Georgia and Moldova are the main problems in Russian-US relations, he added.
