Albright, left, and Ivanov shake hands following their meeting in Singapore  ALSO: Russian premier arrives in Washington to thaw Kosovo chill No action, but much talk at SE Asia security conference VIDEO CNN's Andrea Koppel reports on the meeting between Albright and Ivanov Windows Media 28K 80K

July 26, 1999
Web posted at: 10:48 p.m. EDT (0248 GMT)

In this story: Many issues on the table RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

SINGAPORE (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her Russian counterpart said Monday that they will install a second telephone "hot line" aimed at avoiding misunderstandings and defusing hostilities between the two nations, like those that developed over NATO's airstrikes on Kosovo.

Albright and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov began face-to-face meetings in Singapore during an annual forum on Southeast Asia by signing a memorandum of understanding to create the hot line that will link the Russian foreign ministry with the U.S. Department of State.

The two diplomats declared the rift between their nations on the mend.

"We have turned the corner," said Ivanov, insisting that the relationship must proceed without "any deviations or surprises."

Recent developments "demonstrate the need for having a continuously operating and reliable communication," he said.

The new hot line will be in addition to the longtime communications link that has connected the White House and the Kremlin since early in the Cold War.

Contacts between Washington and Moscow have increased since the 78-day bombing war ended in Yugoslavia, historically Russia's ally. Russian and NATO troops have been working together in Kosovo.

"The Russian-U.S. relationship is so important and so broad that it could not be damaged by the Kosovo situation," declared Albright.

Many issues on the table

The lengthy agenda tackled by Albright and Ivanov during their dinner meeting included post-war reconstruction in the Balkans, strategic arms reductions and prospects for a re-energized peace process in the Middle East.

U.S. officials said the two will also soon finalize the format and content of this summer's discussions centering on the anti-ballistic missile and START II arms control treaties. Talks were frozen by Russia since the war in Yugoslavia began.

Ivanov told reporters that his government intends to renew efforts to get approval for the START II arms control treaty approved by the Russian Duma when it convenes in late September.

With the war in Yugoslavia ended, both governments are eager to jump-start a wide range of joint ventures, but Russia is still reluctant to rejoin NATO's partnership for peace.

Moscow harbors lingering animosity over NATO's decision to bomb Yugoslavia without a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. officials focused on incremental improvements, emphasizing a decision last week by Russia to quietly reopen their office at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Correspondent Andrea Koppel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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