According to the Russian Satellite News Agency on December 21, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Seromolotov said in an interview with the Satellite News Agency that contacts between Russian and American law enforcement agencies and intelligence services have not been interrupted and are being carried out regularly.
In response to questions about the work of the two sides on the topic of counter-terrorism, Seromolotov said, “The relevant contacts between Russian and American law enforcement agencies and intelligence services have not been interrupted.
Contacts continue to take place regularly.” He noted, “We believe that the work carried out in that direction should not be interrupted and cannot be relied on the political situation.”
“Politically, we all remember Washington’s unilateral decision to suspend professional meetings within the framework of high-level dialogue under the auspices of the Russian and U.S. foreign ministries,” Seromolotov said.
He said, “I can only regret this behavior.” “I have to emphasize again that we don’t need this kind of dialogue more than our trans-ocean partners,” he noted.
In response to questions about when initial contacts with American partners could be held, Seromolotov said, “questions about the time of such contact should be asked to them.” He added, “But the answer will obviously only be received after the new leadership team of the State Department is formed.”
