Obama says engage with Russia, differences linger
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STRASBOURG, France, April 3 (Reuters) - The United States must seek closer ties with Russia but "core disagreements" remain on some issues, President Barack Obama said on Friday.
He made his comments before a NATO summit which will include discussion of relations with former Cold War foe Moscow.
"We have to send a very clear message to Russia that we want to work with them but we can't go back to the old ways of doing business," he told a joint news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the French city of Strasbourg.
Obama said some differences remained with Russia despite talks in London on Wednesday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at which they agreed to seek a deal on cutting their nuclear arsenals.
"It is important for NATO allies to engage Russia, and to recognise that they have legitimate interests. In some case we have common interests, but we also have some core disagreements," he said, without giving details.
"I think we should be in a dialogue with them about how we can maintain stability, while respecting the autonomy and independence of all countries in Europe -- west, east, central, wherever they are."
Obama also said it was important to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, an issue on which Washington is seeking Russian assistance.
"We cannot have a nuclear arms race in the Middle East," he said.
The United States and Iran are at odds over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the West says is a cover to build an atomic bomb and Iran says is for peaceful energy use. (Writing by Timothy Heritage; Editing by Tim Hepher)
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