DEAUVILLE. May 30 (Interfax) - Russia has welcomed the readiness of the United States to help catch the leader of North Caucasian militants Doku Umarov, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a Friday press conference.
"The situation is quite simple. After a certain period when we did not quite properly discuss the subject with each other and Americans didn't always listen to us - that was some 10-12 years ago with respect to fighting terrorism in the Caucasus - presently we have absolutely identical approaches to the matter," he said.
The U.S. realizes that international terrorism does not have borders and "members of the self-same terrorist network which Americans are fighting against are in fact operating in our Caucasus," Medvedev said.
"For this very reason, Russia welcomed the elimination of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. For this very reason, such agreements are possible today," Medvedev said.
"This means that Americans are ready to join the effort, and we are glad because the U.S. has its own possibilities in this sphere and its own expertise," he said.
"If in the long run this is going to help to catch or eliminate Umarov, let it be so. This is the result which should be welcomed," Medvedev said.