SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Foreign Minister Ivanov and I have had another of this series of discussions, not only between the two of us but between our two delegations, getting ready for President Putin's visit to the United States in a couple of weeks' time. We went over the full range of issues that our two Presidents will be talking about, and the full range of issues that are part of our bilateral discussions and our bilateral relationship.

I had the opportunity to thank the Minister once again for the support we have been receiving from Russia in this campaign against terrorism. And we are looking forward to our two Presidents having a very, very successful meeting.

We don't have anything to announce at this time and, because of time constraints, I regret that we will not be able to take questions.

I also would thank my colleague for his invitation. I am looking forward to visiting Moscow sometime in December, sometime next month.

Once again, Igor, it is a great pleasure to have you here.

FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV: (As interpreted.) I would like first of all to affirm that we did have a substantial and constructive discussion of a number of important issues in the context of the preparation of the agenda with (inaudible) continue this work.

We expect that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld will come to Moscow, and we will also continue work on the expert level, to ensure that by the summit of our Presidents we have prepared documents on the key issues of our cooperation.

As Secretary Powell said, we are all working hard to ensure the success of the forthcoming summit of our Presidents.

SECRETARY POWELL: I might also mention that I expect that the Minister and I will also get together again next weekend at the UN meetings in New York.

Thank you very much.

12:40 PM EST

[End]

Released on November 1, 2001