Matviyenko hopes for lowering of international tensions after Putin-Obama meeting
MOSCOW. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The events at the UN General assembly, in particular, the meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, are giving hope that tensions in international relations will subside, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko has said.
"Today it is probably too soon to make far-reaching conclusions about the consequences of the past events. But there is no doubt that they gave rise to hope of a cooling down of tensions in international relations," Matviyenko wrote on her blog on the Federation Council's website.
These hopes are not ephemeral, as attested by the very fact that the two presidents met, she said.
"Apparently, there is a growing realization in Washington that whatever problem they are dealing with, be it the fight against terrorism, resolving the situation in Syria, in the Middle East in general, implementation of the Minsk agreements on Ukraine and other pressing issues - without Russia, without dialogue with it, nothing will work out," the speaker said.
Sanctions make Russia's life more difficult, but that is it, she said. "They do not reflect in any way upon its role and global influence. Therefore, it is still better to talk to us rather than pressuring us," Matviyenko said.
So far a major U-turn in the Russia-U.S. relationship is out of the question, "but already there is the sense of a drift towards the softening, the warming-up of the relationship," she said.
"Let us hope it will gain strength and become the dominating trend in international relations," Matviyenko said.
