Russian Diplomat Says No Lack of Communication with US

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov affirmed that communication between Moscow and Washington continues actively.

Ryabkov noted that Moscow does not know when the US Senate will be able to approve Lynne Tracy as the country's new ambassador to Russia.

"We agreed to the appointment of a new American ambassador to Moscow, a well-known diplomat, Ms. Tracy, she worked with us. We do not know when there may be a hearing in the US Senate on her confirmation," Ryabkov stated.

He added: "As for communication channels, our ambassador Anatoly Antonov is very active, he is in contact with colleagues in various US structures, including colleagues in the State Department, and he is very active in the media."

"We exchange notes, conduct other forms of correspondence, that is, we do not feel that there is a lack of communication,” the diplomat stressed.

In the same vein, Ryabkov indicated that the Bilateral Consultative Commission under the Russia-US New START Treaty will meet in Cairo from November 29 to December 6.

"We will have communication with the Americans through other [than intelligence] channels, including a meeting as part of the so-called bilateral commission on the START Treaty to be held in Cairo from November 29 to December 6," he said.

The Russian diplomat pointed out that dialogue between the two nations is ongoing, "though it has not been systemic." He regretted that the US had suspended quite a few formats.

"But we are not standing here begging. What I mean is we do not need dialogue with the Americans any more than they do," Ryabkov said.