Opening the meeting with US Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neil, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and the US President’s National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, President Vladimir Putin noted that the positive shifts in the Russian economy and the arrival of the American delegation gave grounds for the hope that the relations between the two countries would be invested with new content.
The President said the current US restrictions regarding Russia, such as non-recognition of the market status as well as the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, impeded the development of bilateral economic ties.
Mr Putin also had separate talks with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Russia’s Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo. Strategic stability and the balance between offensive and defensive arms were discussed. The two sides agreed a schedule of expert consultations on anti-missile defence.
The agreement on the visit to Moscow by the US Administration officials was reached at the bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush in Genoa on July 22, 2001.