Albright and Ivanov hold a joint news conference in Moscow after two days of talks
AIFF or WAV Sec. of State Albright (498 K / 28 sec. audio)

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• Differences 'Not unnatural'
• Albright reassures Russians over ABMs
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MOSCOW (CNN) -- The top U.S. and Russian diplomats downplayed their differences Tuesday and tried to narrow a widening breach between the two countries by issuing a joint statement on Kosovo.

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was in Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and the country's ailing president, Boris Yeltsin, now hospitalized for treatment of an ulcer.

Russia and the United States have been at odds over a variety of issues in recent weeks, from U.S. military action in Iraq to American suggestions that it might drop out of a 1972 arms control treaty.

Albright rejected Russian complaints that American policymakers are ignoring Russia's concerns on such issues.

"The proof is in the pudding," she said. "I am here because we are neither avoiding nor dismissing Russia and its views."

"It would be impossible and completely inappropriate for the United States to dismiss the views of a great country like Russia," she added. "We may not agree -- that is something completely different."

Differences 'Not unnatural'

Russia criticized December's U.S.-led bombing campaign in Iraq and has loudly complained about a push for a limited ballistic missile defense system that would violate existing limits on those systems. Despite those questions, however, Ivanov said the U.S.-Russian partnership was strong.

"I know there are a lot of people looking for conflict. There are a lot of issues on which we don't agree, but that is not unnatural," Ivanov said at a joint news conference with Albright on Tuesday.

On Kosovo, both sides agreed to support international monitoring efforts aimed at preserving a cease-fire between Yugoslav troops and ethnic Albanian separatists. They also urged an extensive probe into the killings of 45 people in the town of Racak on January 15.

"We agree that the killing must be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice, " Albright said.

Albright reassures Russians over ABMs

Ivanov stressed the need for a political settlement in both Iraq and Yugoslavia. He and Albright both emphasized that the United States remains committed to the 1972 ABM treaty -- for now, at least.

"We have assurances by the president and vice president that the American side says they will follow the ABM treaty," Ivanov said. "Any possible plans must be agreed to, and that's what we discussed."

Albright said the treaty remains essential to both countries' disarmament regimes. "There are, however, new threats in the world that I think both countries need to consider."

President Bill Clinton has asked for another $6.6 billion for research into anti-ballistic missile systems that could breach the treaty, but Albright stressed that there are no plans to deploy any system until at least 2005.

Earlier Tuesday, Albright spoke by telephone with Yeltsin for about 25 minutes, State Department spokesman James Rubin said. Albright urged Yeltsin not to let "one or another difference" on key issues spoil the two countries' relationship.

Albright also tried to reassure Russians that Western businesses had confidence in the Russian economy despite its current weaknesses.

"Ninety-five percent of our businesses say they are in for the long run. I recalled America's own experience, that the work of building democracy is slow and difficult," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.