US, Russian military chiefs hold talks

WASHINGTON - US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey met Thursday with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Makarov at the Pentagon, discussing international security issues and methods to foster military relations.

"This was Gen. Dempsey's first substantive meeting with Gen. (Nikolay) Makarov since he assumed duties as Chief of General Staff (of Russia) in June 2008," said Scott McIlnay, public affairs officer for Dempsey.

Dempsey and Makarov discussed Afghanistan, the Middle East, including Syria, the Asia-Pacific, and missile defense, he said.

The two generals also discussed bilateral military relations, especially the Bilateral Presidential Commission's Military Cooperation Working Group, according to McIlnay.

McIlnay said the working group was established to identify mutually beneficial areas of cooperation; coordinate implementation of joint projects to strengthen strategic stability and international security; develop military contacts; discuss matters of mutual security; and monitor execution of current cooperative projects and joint activities.