US touts Russia ties ahead of talks with defense minister: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates hosts his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov on Wednesday for several hours of talks, as US officials touted improving relations between the two countries.
It was the first visit to the Pentagon by a Russian defense minister in five years, and American officials made a point of telling reporters that Gates was devoting most of his day to talks with Serdyukov.
The two planned to sign documents on defense cooperation and hold three formal meetings as well as a working dinner on a navy vessel on the Potomac river, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.
The defense chiefs would be meeting for a total of at least five hours, 'which is an unusually long amount of time to devote to any visiting dignitary,' he told reporters."
