Sec. @JohnKerry and FM Lavrov spoke for 30 mins today on #Syriaand #NorthKorea http://wapo.st/XUzhEo #Russia
Secretary of State Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov finally...
The Washington Post
Kerry had called Lavrov on Feb. 11, hours after North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions approved by Russia, the United States and other nations. Lavrov, who was traveling in Africa, didn’t call back that day, nor the next, nor for several more days in which State Department reporters had fun ribbing Nuland about the snub.
On Thursday, Nuland insisted Kerry was “relaxed” about the unusual silence from Russia, a difficult partner whose cooperation Kerry will need on numerous international diplomatic problems.
“From our perspective, the secretary would like to talk to him. It’s up to him whether he wants to take that opportunity,” she said.
On Friday, one reporter asked Nuland whether Kerry had found his “missing in action” counterpart.
“They have not connected,” Nuland replied.
“This is getting kind of ridiculous, isn’t it?” another reporter asked.
“As I’ve been saying all week, we’re making it clear that we would like to talk if they want to. If they are too busy or otherwise engaged, the offer stands, and we’ll continue to do other diplomacy,” Nuland responded.
Kerry and Lavrov had spoken once during Kerry’s first week on the job, a courtesy call during which both men agreed to keep lines of communication open, Nuland said at the time.
