22 December 2004	Wednesday	09 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: The second session of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability concluded its meeting here on Tuesday after talks on various issues including terrorism , nuclear non-proliferation and bilateral cooperation.

A press statement issued by the foreign ministry said the two sides expressed satisfaction over the exchange of views and closeness of positions on a number of issues.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak and additional secretary of foreign office, Tariq Osman Haider, led their respective sides during the talks held on Monday and Tuesday.

"They agreed to work towards expanding areas of commonality," said the foreign office. It was agreed during the talks to increase interaction between the foreign ministers of the two countries, said the Foreign Office.

The press statement said the two sides expressed satisfaction over the positive development in their bilateral relations as a result of the meeting between President Pervez Musharraf and President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in February 2003.

The Foreign Office said the next session of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability would be held in Moscow in mid-2005, dates for which would be agreed to by the two sides through diplomatic channels.

The visiting head of the Russian delegation also called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Minister of State Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar. During the meetings with Foreign Minister Kasuri, the Russian delegation was briefed on the ongoing dialogue with India.