- Our first questions are about Georgia. We know that yesterday you discussed that issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Is it possible to say now how soon Russian military bases may be withdrawn from Georgia? As far as we know, it is one of the most serious issues.
- I can't answer that question. It is a matter for the Russian authorities and the Georgian authorities to work out through discussions and negotiations over time. The US position is that those forces should come out in accordance with the Istanbul commitments that the Russian Federation entered into in 1999. But I was impressed by the open attitude that President Putin had towards that question yesterday when we discussed it and I know that he and Foreign Minister Ivanov will be working with the new leadership of Georgia to come up with a solution to this situation. We wish the Georgian people all the best under their new leadership and the United States looks forward to cooperating with the Russian Federation in helping the Georgian people put in place a stable democracy.
- There are many hot spots in the world and in some regions the USA and Russia cooperate. This however is not the case as far as Iraq is concerned. As you know, our country did not send its troops to Iraq but nevertheless - as far as I understand and judging by your talks in Moscow yesterday - both Putin and Ivanov on the whole are quite favourably disposed towards the mission that the United States is now performing in Iraq? Is that indeed so?
- Yes, we had a positive discussion about Iraq. There is no question that last year we had a serious disagreement. Russia did not support a military campaign in Iraq but now we are cooperating to help the Iraqis build a democracy for themselves. Russia joined us in getting passage of UN Resolution No 1511, which brought the international community back together. Russian firms are now working in Iraq under direct contracts with Iraqi companies and Iraqi authorities. And we've had discussions with Russia about debt relief for Iraq. And I think there will be further contracting opportunities and subcontracting opportunities for Russian firms in Iraq. 
- Do you also mean, Mr Secretary of State, that Russian oil companies will also be allowed access to Iraqi oil, to developing and distributing it? There're been reports that those countries that did not support the military operation - Russia, France, Germany - will not get anything in Iraq.
- After we have transferred sovereignty back to the Iraqi people, it will be up to the Iraqi government to determine what relations they will have with France, Germany and Russia and what economic opportunities those countries will have, and what economic opportunities will exist for exploring for more oil or assisting the Iraqis in rebuilding their oil infrastructure. We are trying to look to the future and not the past.
- Saddam Husayn's obvious terror in his own country was stopped only through an intervention of other countries, including the USA, mainly the USA. Now Moscow is destroying Chechnya with a tacit approval from the international community, including the USA. Why aren't you getting involved in this?
- Chechnya is a part of the Russian Federation and they are dealing with a difficult situation there. There are terrorists in Chechnya and we have said to our Russian colleagues that it is a problem they have to deal with but we hope they will work towards finding a political solution and that they will conduct their efforts in Chechnya in full consideration of their human rights and international obligations for the protection of human rights. But it is an internal matter for the Russian Federation to deal with.
- And now we would like to learn your opinion on some of our domestic political problems. In an article in yesterday's Izvestiya you wrote the following about your first visit to the USSR many years ago: the monstrous ability of the Soviet regime to intimidate one's own people and to suppress their human spirit. Today some people in this country say that those, almost Stalinist, times are returning and President Putin is gradually putting the screws on. Would you agree with that view?
- No, those days are not coming back and I don't have the least concern about that, frankly. The Russian people now vote freely for who their leaders will be. We have expressed some concern to President Putin and Russian leaders that we believe more open media, greater access to the media for people who are running for office and certain other actions that the Russian government has taken causes some concern and, as friends, we express that concern to our Russian colleagues. But when I think back over the 30 years that I've been coming to Russia, what we have seen over the last 15 years is a remarkable transformation to a democratic system of government, where the people are able to vote and vote freely. And we think that we can [changes tack] more can be done here so that they have access to the information, to free media, in order to make an informed choice. And so I am not concerned about Russia returning to the old days of the Soviet Union. Far from it. Russia has accomplished a great deal in recent years and the United States views Russia as a friend and a partner and wants to be helpful. Most of my article in Izvestiya praised Russia for what it's accomplished but, as a friend, we pointed out some areas that are causing us concern. That is how friends talk to one another. To show you how things have changed in my own neighbourhood back in the United States, the local gas station is owned by LUKoil - something that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
- Several US congressmen have proposed to stop inviting Russia to G8 summits. Given that this year the summit will be hosted by the United States, has a decision been made whether to invite Vladimir Putin to the summit?
- Of course, we would expect President Putin to be at the G8 summit in the United States and to represent the Russian Federation. But the views expressed by those congressmen reflect some of the concerns that I discussed with President Putin yesterday and that were reflected in my Izvestiya article.