US NSA Rice meets Putin's foreign policy advisor

US National Security Advisor Susan Rice met Russian President's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit during which they discussed issues related to the Syrian crisis and areas of future cooperation between the two countries, the White House said today.
"In their discussion of Syria, Rice reiterated the United States' strong view that the Assad regime must be held accountable for their use of chemical weapons in violation of international norms and underscored the continued importance of resolving the conflict in Syria through a negotiated solution through the Geneva principles," National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden said in a statement after the meeting.

During the meeting, Rice reaffirmed US support for the upcoming Sochi Olympics, underscoring the importance of ensuring a secure event in the spirit of the Olympic Charter.
"While acknowledging impediments in the bilateral relationship, Rice welcomed a regular exchange of views and cooperation on areas of mutual interest," Hayden said, adding that the two diplomats reviewed the state of US-Russian relations and discussed areas of future cooperation.