Ex-Ambassadors Urge U.S. and Russia to Mend Rift

April 1, 2013

Former ambassadors of Washington and Moscow say the United States and Russia should leave behind their differences and focus on common interests and challenges such as Syria.

Their analyses came Tuesday at one of a series of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic ties.

James Collins, the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 1997 to 2001, said "We really don't see a reason … why Russia and the United States can't find common purpose."

He noted that Washington and Moscow were both uncertain about how to address the civil war in Syria. Russia has repeatedly blocked efforts to impose new UN sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

(AP)

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