Today in Washington (May 8, 2009)

Obama seeks better US-Russian ties
President Barack Obama on Thursday said he was hopeful of improving relations between Washington and Moscow, during a White House meeting with Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Obama said that his wide-ranging talks with Lavrov focused on nuclear proliferation, Iran, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the financial crisis and other issues.
Obama said: I am hopeful that the meetings weve had so far and the meetings that we expect to have throughout the course of this year will be of mutual benefit to both countries.
Lavrov said that the two countries were working in a pragmatic and businesslike way on common interests, including negotiations to replace the landmark Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty [START].

US, Russia look to normalize ties
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that differences between the United States and Russia would not stand in the way of arms control negotiations.
In a joint news conference in Washington with Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Clinton sought to minimize tensions over Russias role in Georgia and Moscows opposition to NATO military exercises there this week.
Clinton said: It is, I think, old thinking to say that we have a disagreement in one area, therefore we shouldnt work on something else that is of overwhelming importance.
She added: We want to normalize the relationship and raise it to a new level.

US says committed to seeking Syrian-Israeli peace
Senior US envoy Jeffrey Feltman said on Thursday that the United States was committed to seeking a peace deal between Syria and Israel.
Feltman, on his second visit to Damascus in two months, also described his talks with Syrias Foreign Minister Walid Muallem as constructive, and vowed to pursue dialogue.
Feltman said: We conveyed President Obamas sincere commitment to pursue Arab-Israeli peace on all tracks, including on the Syrian-Israeli track.

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