Russian and U.S. National Security Advisers Hold Promising Meeting in Geneva

Oct. 3, 2020 (EIRNS)—The Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev met with U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien in Geneva on Oct. 2, with both sides issuing very positive statements. “A working meeting took place today in Geneva, in a bid to normalize bilateral relations and strengthen the international security,” the Russian Security Council spokesman Yevgeny Anoshin said, according to TASS.

This is the first meeting between Patrushev and O’Brien. The two had spoken by phone in April. Among the issues they discussed was cooperation between Russia and the U.S. in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anoshin disclosed that “both sides confirmed the absence of intention to meddle in each other’s internal affairs, including in the electoral process in Russia and the U.S.” They also agreed to continue working on implementation of the initiatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including for a summit of UN Security Council permanent members.

For his part, O’Brien issued a statement, saying: “We had business-like and constructive dialogue and, while we have differences, I am optimistic that the United States and Russia can make progress in key areas that will ultimately benefit both the American and Russian people.”

Subjects discussed, he said, included “Arms control, cybersecurity, elections non-interference, counterterrorism, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Syria, Afghanistan, and several other bilateral issues of mutual interest.” According to O’Brien, he “made it very clear that the United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections, and the Russian side committed not to do so.”

Although not referenced by TASS, Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed on Sept. 25 for the U.S. and Russia to reach an agreement on incident prevention in the cybersphere.