Russia-U.S. hotline exists, used to discuss particular situations - Russian deputy FM
MOSCOW. May 26 (Interfax) - There are communication channels between Russia and the United States, which are used to discuss particular situations and are occasionally tested, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the International Affairs journal.
The journal asked Ryabkov whether Russia and the United States had a hotline of the kind that once existed between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. "All necessary communication channels not just exist but are also sporadically tested. Certain technical procedures are performed to make sure that these communication channels are operational," he said.
"There are also occasional phone calls between Moscow and Washington at the official level to discuss specifics of particular situations," Ryabkov said.
"It's a different thing that, for now, we do not see the other side's readiness for serious work on an improvement of the situation," he said.
"All the mechanisms are available, there should be no doubt about that. However, a political will of the other side is a different thing," Ryabkov said.
While commenting on the state of relations and their prospects, Ryabkov said, "I think our relations will be nothing but occasional over a fairly long period even in the historical perspective, just to address particular problems, no more than that."
"I have absolutely no illusions and I believe that, under the circumstances, the colleagues in Washington, those in charge of the Russian track, should have focused on the prevention of further escalation, as risks are mounting," Ryabkov said.
Relations "from good to better" were sought but turned "from bad to worse" instead, the interviewer said. "Yes, exactly," Ryabkov replied.
As to whether Moscow and Washington have any antiterrorism contacts, Ryabkov said, "We have no contacts. The same goes for the topic of international information security - the Americans have unilaterally stopped this dialogue and have not resumed it."