MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia wants to see the US as a powerful democratic country observing the international law, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated.
"We have confirmed that like the US, which wants Russia to make effective contribution in the global development, we want the US to be powerful and democratic and cooperate with other states in the world, observing the international law," the Russian minister told journalists after a meeting between the Russian president and the US secretary of state.
This was Sergei Lavrov's comment on the statement Condoleezza Rice had made in an interview with one of the Russian mass media outlets that Russian-US relation will be better and Russia will develop more efficiently if there is less power in the hands of the president.
"This question has not been raised today," the foreign minister said.
"In general, we exchanged our opinions on a wide range of issues. There are no prohibited topics for us. And we have answered our American friends' requests to dwell on the situation, explain what is going on in Russia," Lavrov added.
"Condoleezza Rice has told me today that 15 years is not a long period," the Russian minister said.
"We have informed her on legislative bases that were created in Russia to develop democracy and carry on market reforms," Lavrov added.
"She admitted that it takes time to make all this work effectively, of course," the official pointed out.
"Such a mutually respectful dialogue is useful for both parties," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
