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Tillerson Has Awkward First Encounter With Lavrov at G-20

  • Media present ushered out as top U.S. diplomat began talking
  • “Why did you shush them out?” Lavrov asks as reporters removed
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Watch Tillerson's Awkward Meeting With Russia's Lavrov

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All eyes were on U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s meeting with his Russian counterpart at a gathering of foreign diplomats in Bonn, and as first encounters go, it was awkward.

Protocol dictates the two would shake hands, exchange platitudes in front of the clicking cameras, and perhaps take an impromptu question before retiring for a private chat. Russia’s Sergei Lavrov began: “Mr. Secretary of State, I thank you for this opportunity to have the first contact after you have assumed the office and I would like to congratulate you once again for that.”