This year marks the bicentennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia. Over 200 years, the two countries have seen their relationship undergo dramatic transformations and at the outset of the twenty-first century face new, common global challenges.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has undertaken a major effort to commemorate this historic event in both Moscow and Washington with conferences on U.S.-Russia relations.

In June 2007 the Carnegie Moscow Center hosted a conference with addresses from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley. The panel discussed a number of issues regarding relations between the two countries.

In September the Carnegie Endowment in Washington hosted a two-day conference of former Russian and American ambassadors to Washington and Moscow. The program focused on the future of relations between the United States and Russia. Each ambassador has represented his country at a time of profound change in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Drawing on their experience in representing their governments over a period of more than three decades, the ambassadors discussed the agenda for the U.S.-Russian relationship going forward. As senior officials, they bring unique perspective to the diplomacy that brought a peaceful end to the Cold War and transformed U.S.-Russia relations following the collapse of the USSR.

September 24, 2007:

Keynote Speaker:
The Hon. Lee H. Hamilton, Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Click here for video of the event.
Click here for event photo gallery.
Click here for Hamilton's remarks in English or Russian.

September 25, 2007:

Public Luncheon: Drawing on their diplomatic experience spanning a period of more than four decades, the ambassadors discussed challenges and opportunities that face the two countries in the 21st century. As former senior officials, they brought unique perspective to the diplomacy that brought a peaceful end to the Cold War and saw the development of post-Cold War relations between the United States and Russia.
Click here for video of the event.
Click here for event photo gallery.
Click here for an event transcript.

 

Click on the links below to watch interviews of event participants.
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Amb. James F. Collins Carnegie Endowment for International Peace QuickTime Windows Media Podcast	Amb. Alexander Bessmertnykh International Foreign Policy Association, Moscow QuickTime Windows Media Podcast
Amb.Tom Pickering Hills & Company QuickTime Windows Media Podcast	Jill Dougherty CNN International QuickTime Windows Media Podcast