RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO RUSSIA-US DIALOGUE

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Itar-Tass) - U.S. President George W. Bush has received Russian Ambassdor to the United States Yuri Ushakov who has ended his term of office. President Bush congratulated the ambassador on his new appointment and lauded his contribution to the development of American-Russian relations. A report circulated by the White House says that Yuri Ushakov stayed in Washington longer than any other Russian ambassador in the post-Soviet period. He played the key role in deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Russia and in advancing American-Russian partnership in order to respond to global challenges of the 21st century, the document says. President Bush wished Ushakov all the best upon his return to Moscow later in June. Moscow has recently announced that Yuri Ushakov was relieved of his duties of the Russian ambassador to the United States and appointed the deputy chief of the Russian government. Ushakov has returned to Washington to say good-bye to American leaders.