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Putin and Clinton to meet on APEC summit sidelines

The Kremlin expects to hear from Hillary Clinton her assessment of the course of political fight ahead of the November presidential election

VLADIVOSTOK, September 6 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are expected to meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russian president’s aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday.

Hillary Clinton will lead the US delegation to the summit. The Kremlin expects to hear from Hillary Clinton her assessment of the course of political fight ahead of the November presidential election. The upcoming election and a congress of the Democratic Party which has officially nominated Barack Obama, have prevented him from taking part in the summit, of which he warned the Russian president beforehand.

The secretary of state will arrive instead of him. “Maybe Ms Clinton will say something about her impressions about the development of political situation inside the country,” Ushakov said, adding that a brief meeting of Putin and Clinton is scheduled for September 8, during a reception on behalf of the Russian president in honor of the foreign leaders to the summit.

The Kremlin aide also said that the two officials would certainly discuss Syria. At the same time, it is expected that they will focus on bilateral relations, including those on which the sides have differences. However, Ushakov did not mention among them either US missile defense plans or the so-called Magnitsky List.

Focusing on “certain difficulties persisting” in bilateral relations, he mentioned only “the extraterritorial decision of the American court concerning the Schneerson Collection, which creates a threat of an arrest by US authorities of Russian objects of national heritage”.

“The Russian side proceeds from the fact that it is possible to find a solution to most intricate problems by acting constructively and as partners, basing on principles of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs,” Ushakov said.

On the whole, the Kremlin expects a positive dialogue with the head of the US delegation, as a lot has been achieved in bilateral relations over the recent time, including the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, an agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, an agreement on US military transit to Afghanistan via Russia, an agreement on simplification of visa procedures, as well as a child adoptions deal.