[…] On October 13, during a trip to Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an extensive interview with the ABC News program Nightline. The interview covered a whole range of international issues, as well as Clinton’s working relationship with President Obama and her own political career. The following are excerpts in which Clinton talks about U.S. relations with Russia, cooperation on Iran, and anti-missile defense systems.

[…] China and Russia have signed billions of dollars worth of deals during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing. The trip is aimed at bolstering business, political and military ties.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao greeted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. The two leaders reviewed Chinese troops before going in to closed-door talks.

[…] The United States and Russia are making progress in replacing a current treaty for reducing nuclear arsenals with one that goes further in physically reducing arsenals and also lessening perceived tensions over nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed at a meeting in April to reduce nuclear arsenals well below the levels called for in the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I.

[…] But to talk about those differences, to share them openly, we think is also an important part of this new aspect to our relationship. Just three days ago, Sergey and I were in Zurich working together to bring about the signing of the historic protocols between Armenia and Turkey regarding normalization of relations. Both of our countries strongly support this process, and it’s another example of how we are working together.

[…] “The achievements of the Moscow Summit will help put an end to a period of dangerous drift in U.S.-Russian relations by increasing our cooperation on a range of issues that are fundamental to the security and the prosperity of both countries,” Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said at a congressional hearing July 28. “This significant progress in our relations with Russia … did not in any way come at the expense of our principles or partnerships with friends and allies,” Gordon added.

[…] Thank you. Well, good afternoon. Dobryy Den’. I apologize that I think I’m running late and I’m leaving early. (Laughter.) This is a good reason why civil society is so important -- because you can’t always count on politicians. (Laughter.) It is a great pleasure to be with all of you. Through the work that you do, you underscore what I believe is a fundamental truth in the 21st century: that strong, vibrant nations include strong, vibrant civil societies.

[…] In agreeing to reduce nuclear arsenals, the United States and Russia are aiming to ease tensions substantially and strengthen mutual trust — both critical ingredients for enhanced relations. “We’ve taken important steps forward to increase nuclear security and to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. This starts with the reduction of our own nuclear arsenals,” President Obama said at a July 6 Moscow press conference.

[…] President Obama urges Russia to support efforts to prevent nuclear arms races in East Asia and the Middle East, saying the successful enforcement of international law will remove causes of disagreement between the United States and Russia.
Obama told graduating students July 7 at The New Economic School in Moscow that he is aware of Russia’s opposition to the planned missile-defense configuration for Europe.

[…] Thank you so much. Well, congratulations, Oxana. And to the entire Class of 2009, congratulations to you. I don't know if anybody else will meet their future wife or husband in class like I did, but I'm sure that you're all going to have wonderful careers. I want to acknowledge a few people who are here. We have President Mikhail Gorbachev is here today, and I want everybody to give him a big round of applause. (Applause.) I want to thank Sergei Gurief, Director of the New Economic School. (Applause.) Max Boiko, their Chairman of the Board. (Applause.) And Arkady Dvorkovich, who is the NES board member, President of the Alumni Association and is doing an excellent job for President Medvedev, because he was in our meeting yesterday.

[…] Citing shared concerns over nuclear security and the spread of nuclear weapons, President Obama says the United States and Russia are increasing their security cooperation and have signed a preliminary agreement to reduce their nuclear arsenals. “As the world's two leading nuclear powers, the United States and Russia must lead by example,” Obama said in Moscow July 6, adding that it is difficult to exert leadership on the issue “unless we are showing ourselves willing to deal with our own nuclear stockpiles in a more rational way.”