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Sunday, Dec. 29
The Indiana Daily Student

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Rice, Lavrov seek to ease US-Russia tensions

In what might be one of her last such sessions as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice met with her Russian counterpart in an effort to cool simmering tensions between the two superpowers in the final months of the Bush administration.

Rice, in a meeting the State Department described as “good and productive,” hosted an 80-minute discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at her hotel here.

Despite the length of the private meeting, there was no sign either side had budged on its position on the most contentious issues, notably missile defense, arms control and Russia’s war with Georgia.

Lavrov said later that Russia was not satisfied with the latest U.S. proposals on nuclear arms reduction and missile defense and that positions President-elect Obama has expressed provide hope for a “more constructive” approach, Russian news agencies reported Sunday.

Lavrov said there would likely be further consultations on the defense issues with the U.S. this year, but suggested any final agreements would likely come only with the new U.S. administration.

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