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Washington’s latest decisions lead to deterioration of ties — Russian Embassy

The Russian Embassy in Washington notes that the steps taken by the US authorities create "problems for ordinary people" and harm economic cooperation of the two countries

WASHINGTON, September 1. /TASS/. The US administration’s demand to close Russia’s Consulate General in San Francisco and two diplomatic facilities in Washington and New York is another "spiral turn of diplomatic insults" that will not only deteriorate bilateral ties, but will also create problems for ordinary people, the Russian Embassy in Washington said in a statement.

"We view the step taken by the US administration as unfriendly. Unfortunately, this is another spiral turn of diplomatic insults against each other. It leads to a further deterioration of Russian-US relations," the document said.

The steps taken by the US authorities create "problems for ordinary people" and harm economic cooperation of the two countries, it said. This does not meet common interests of Russia and the United States, the statement said.

The Embassy said Russia is not planning to "slide into hysteria" and hopes that the declared US intentions to normalize bilateral relations will be implemented, the statement said. "We still expect that the aspirations declared by the US leadership to normalize bilateral relations and contacts will be eventually implemented. For our part, we are not going to slide into hysteria and the edge of confrontation. We will continue working for the benefit of the two countries."

On Thursday, the US issued a demand to the Russian government to close down by September 2 the Consulate General in San Francisco and another two diplomatic facilities, one in Washington and one in New York, saying the move was aimed at restoring parity in diplomatic relations with Russia.

A senior US administration official told a news briefing for reporters by telephone the decision implied the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco and the trade missions in Washington and New York. She said along with it the US did not demand that the Russian staff employed at these legations be sent off home.