‘The cooperation that we are seeing from our Russian partners in the P5+1 context is very encouraging‘, says Hillary Clinton of the Kremlin’s involvement in talks with Iran.  The dates of the Secretary of State’s Moscow visit, at which, the Washington Post reports, she will discuss Iran, Afghanistan and nuclear reduction, have been confirmed as 12-14th October.  Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko has apparently said that Russia believes that strategic arms reduction talks with the United States are to be concluded before a cutback in tactical nuclear arms in Europe can be contemplated.  The US ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle, has said that he believes that Washington and Moscow will be able to draft a new strategic arms reduction treaty by the end of the year.  ITAR-TASS reports that the first flight carrying ‘lethal material’ to Afghanistan has been made across Russian airspace.  The US has lauded Russia’s implementation of the airspace cooperation plans.  Russia is optimistic that direct contact between North Korea and the United States may prompt breakthrough in negotiations relating to the North’s nuclear ambitions.