OGARYOVO, JUNE 6, SPA -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN PRAISED U.S.-RUSSIAN COOPERATION TUESDAY, SAYING THAT RECENT JOINT WORK TOWARD SOLVING THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES CAN COMPROMISE. «WE ARE STRENGTHENING OUR COOPERATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. OUR VIEWS ARE FAR FROM COINCIDING BUT ON THE WHOLE WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT, AND FIND COMPROMISES. OUR LATEST JOINT STEPS IN THE IRANIAN SPHERE TESTIFY TO THAT,» PUTIN TOLD FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER. THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA, PLUS GERMANY AGREED FRIDAY ON A PACKAGE OF INCENTIVES TO PERSUADE IRAN TO CURB ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. PUTIN SALUTED KISSINGER FOR LAYING A SOLID FOUNDATION IN U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. «OF COURSE, THE BACKGROUND IS CHANGING, BUT THE SUBSTANCE (OF RELATIONS) IS OF COURSE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER,» PUTIN SAID, MENTIONING IN PARTICULAR COOPERATION IN THE ENERGY FIELD AND THE FIGHT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.
