The United States said on Monday that it has an active and constructive dialogue with Russiaon a broad range of issues after a task force report called for tougher US approach with Russia.

"The main point for us is that the US and Russia have an active and constructive dialogue on a broad agenda of priority issues. Certainly we're cooperating well with them on counter terrorism issues, on proliferation issues ... and on a variety of other areas as well," State Department acting spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

"There are areas where we differ and we think we can have a frank and candid exchange of views with them on those subjects. And we're certainly going to continue to make clear our concerns about those areas where we do have problems," Casey said.

Casey made the remarks after a bipartisan task force report said that the Bush administration should stop pretending Russia is a genuine strategic partner and adopt a new policy of "selective cooperation" and "selective opposition" to the government of President Vladimir Putin.

The task force report, co-chaired by former senator John Edwards and Republican former housing secretary Jack Kemp, also accused Russia of retreating in democracy.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006 )