Moscow  - President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday said Russia is ready to consider downgrading its anti-terrorist operations in Chechnya, where it has fought separatists in two wars in the early 1990s, the news agency Interfax reported.

"Since the situation in the Chechen republic has normalized to a large degree and life is returning to normal ... I propose we consider ending the counterterrorism regime which operates in Chechnya," Medvedev told the head of Russia's FSB security services.

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Moscow - Russia hopes talks between President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barack Obama next month will set a concrete agenda to replace a key nuclear control treaty set to expire in December, the foreign ministry said Friday.

"We hope that the London talks will lead to concrete instructions on what parameters and what tempo negotiations will proceed," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told journalists.

Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday he hoped his first meeting with US President Barak Obama next month put into practice the desire voiced by both sides for a new era of relations.

"We are counting on such a 'reset' and hope to see it realized," Medvedev was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying.

Moscow - Russian President Dmirty Medvedev on Wednesday brokered peace talks in the 20-year-old frozen conflict between Moldova and its separatist region.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Transdniestr leader Igor Smirnov signed a statement in Moscow pledging to continue direct talks "with the goal of invigorating the negotiating process for the political resolution of the Transdniestr conflict," news agency Interfax reported.

The meeting comes ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections in Moldova on April 5.

Moscow - Russian President Dmirty Medvedev on Wednesday brokered peace talks in the 20-year-old frozen conflict between Moldova and its separatist region.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Transdniestr leader Igor Smirnov signed a statement in Moscow pledging to continue direct talks "with the goal of invigorating the negotiating process for the political resolution of the Transdniestr conflict," news agency Interfax reported.

The meeting comes ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections in Moldova on April 5.