Obama to deal with Russia as equals.

By Mikhail Gusman and Andrei Sitov

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Itar-Tass) -- US President Barack Obama wants to
deal with Russia as equals and agree on a new strategic arms reduction
deal that will give no unilateral advantages.

"I think our first step is to provide a framework for the post-START
treaty. And my goal is that both countries reduce their nuclear
stockpiles in a way that doesn't leave either country with an advantage,
but reduces tensions and the expense of maintaining such high nuclear
stockpiles when they're not necessary for our defense and our deterrence,"
he said in an interview with Itar-Tass and Russia TV Channel on Thursday
on the eve of his Moscow summit with Dmitry Medvedev next week.
"If we can get the framework during this summit, then we will be able
to advance a treaty by the end of December," he said in his first
interview with Russian media.
"For us to send a strong signal that we want to reduce our (nuclear)
stockpiles:would help us internationally, (will) give people a sense that
we're moving into a new era and we want to get beyond the Cold War," he
stressed.
Other issues on the summit agenda include non-proliferation and the
fight against terrorism.
"We need to create a strong non-proliferation framework in the
international community. Having Russia as a leader on that is going to be
critical," Obama said.
"The main thing that I want to communicate to Russian leadership and
the Russian people is America's respect for Russia, that we want to deal
as equals. We are both nuclear superpowers; and we have to handle those
responsibilities in a way that encourages peace," he said.
The president listed cooperation on economic and defense issues,
countering the threat of terrorism in both countries, constructive
handling of the Iranian and similar issues, increased trade and commercial
relations as important guidelines.
"Russia is a great country with an extraordinary culture and
extraordinary traditions. It remains one of the most powerful countries
in the world and has, I think, enormous potential for being a force for
stability and prosperity in the international community," Obama said.
As for personal chemistry in relations with Medvedev, Obama believes
"It's very important" to promote trust and understanding.
"Ultimately it is hard to do business with somebody unless there is
some sense of trust, understanding what the other person is thinking, what'
s important to the other person," he said.
Obama, who has already met the Russian leader, said: "I found
President Medvedev to be a very thoughtful, forward-looking individual. I
think he is doing a fine job of leading Russia into the 21st century."
As for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who Obama has not met before,
"obviously he's been a very strong leader for the Russian people," he said.
"And my hope is that I will come away from this meeting with a better
sense of their concerns and their policies. And hopefully they will get a
sense that I am somebody who they can do business with in an effective
way," the US president said.
The interview will be aired on Saturday by the Russia TV channel and
the full version will appear in the Formula of Power TV program.

.Russian, Chinese diplomats to discuss NKorea.

MOSCOW, July 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian and Chinese diplomats will meet
in Moscow on Friday to discuss prospects for the resumption of six-party
talks on the nuclear program of North Korea, and a five-party meeting
without Pyongyang, which withdrew from the talks, may be an option.
Commenting on prospects of a meeting of Russian, Chinese, US, South
Korean and Japanese representatives, a Russian foreign ministry official
said "the Russian side does not object to various formats, however we
shall find a possibility to reset the six-party process."
"A search for possible solutions is underway. However, it is premature
to speak about the resumption of the six-party negotiating process," he
added.
Head of the Chinese delegation at six-party talks on North Korea,
Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei arrived in Moscow on Thursday. Besides,
Russia, he will also visit the United States, South Korea and Japan.

.Russia to ratify oil deal with China Friday.

MOSCOW, July 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian State Duma is going to
ratify on Friday the intergovernmental agreement with China on oil
pipeline construction, crude oil trade and other oil projects.
Under the terms of the $25 billion agreement singed in April, Russia
will supply China with 15 million tons of crude annually for 20 years
starting in 2011. In exchange, China will provide a $15 billion loan to
oil major Rosneft and another loan of $10 billion to oil pipeline operator
Transneft.
The pipeline from the Siberian town of Skovorodino to the Chinese
border will have a capacity of 15 million tons of oil per year and would
be a branch of the main East Siberia-Pacific Ocean trunk pipeline.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and his Russian counterpart Igor
Sechin signed the deal in Beijing after four months of talks.
Sechin, who chairs the state oil company Rosneft, said "this is a
unique agreement of a long-term nature, which is accompanied by financial
agreements, and to implement it we have already begun building a branch
from the main pipeline toward China."
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