MOSCOW. May 12 (Interfax) - The signals received from Washington are not encouraging in terms of the resumption of a bilateral dialogue on strategic stability and space, there have been to dates for such consultations as of yet, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.
"Recent Russian-U.S. contacts, including at the summit level, led to an understanding that a bilateral dialogue on strategic stability must be resumed. Its level is the deputy heads of the foreign policy agencies," Ryabkov told Interfax.
"An agreement on the establishment of a pilot working group of experts from both parties to address security in space in its varying dimensions was reached as early as in January," he said.
"We are now focused on resuming contacts and work in those formats. But the signals, including public ones, sent by Washington, are not particularly encouraging. Unfortunately, colleagues in Washington continue setting certain conditions for the continuation of a productive dialogue and generally present the situation in such way that Russia allegedly needs arms control work more that the U.S. does," Ryabkov said.
Answering a follow-up question whether there is understanding of the dates of the resumption of such consultations, the deputy minister said, "Unfortunately, not yet."
"We have always proceeded and continue proceeding from the notion that it is a mutually beneficial process working for the strengthening of security of both of our countries and making a considerable contribution to an improvement of the international situation, ensuring strategic stability on a scale wider than solely Russian-U.S. one," he said, adding that "it is up to the U.S. to make choice" in the current situation.
"If it is ready to negotiate, we are open for agreements, and we are always extremely responsible about searching for solutions. But such solutions and such agreements can only be mutually beneficial, balanced and based on mutual respect and forgoing attempts to force one's preferences or agenda unilaterally onto someone," Ryabkov said.