The military chiefs on the United States and Russia met in the Finnish capital of Helsinki on Tuesday in an effort to normalize the military relations between the two countries, which were strained by the Russian invasion of Georgia on 8 August.
U.S. military officials said that the meeting between Adm Michael Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart, Gen Nikolai Makarov, was arranged hastily in the Finnish capital on a request from the Russian side.
After his two hour meeting with the Russian General, Adm. Mullen told reporters traveling with him to Latvia that the relationship between the two countries should not be on an "all on or all off" basis and added that it was good that the talks were held at a time when there was no immediate crisis.
"Clearly the relationship has changed because of what happened in Georgia," Admiral Mullen said. "But by no means should it end. I don't think it can resume exactly where it was before Georgia, but we also covered areas of mutual concern."
Admn. Mullen said that the two military leaders had pledged to continue with their talks, but he refused to disclose further details on the talks that he had with the Russian military chief.
Recently, the relations between the U.S. and Russia has been strained over the Russian invasion of Georgia, along with the expansion of NATO, the deployment of U.S. missile shied system in eastern Europe and the American support for Kosavo's independence.
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