Russian first deputy Foreign Minister, Norwegian Speaker discuss bilateral cooperation in Europe's North

Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov met the delegation of Storting (the Norwegian parliament), headed by Speaker Jorgen Kosmo, currently on an official visit to Russia. The sides discussed bilateral and regional cooperation in Europe's North and vital issues of European and world policy.

In addition, Jorgen Kosmo met Federation Council Vice-Speaker Alexander Torshin. The sides agreed to hold an inter-parliamentary conference on Barents Sea problems soon. The conference is also expected to focus on Spitsbergen's future.

The meeting between the Norwegian speaker and Russian Vice-Premier Aleksei Gordeyev focused on the preparations for the signing of the Russian-Norwegian inter-parliamentary agreement on nuclear and radiation security in the North. The agreement on environmental problems and utilisation of nuclear wastes "has been almost accomplished." In addition, they discussed trade and economic cooperation, in particular, the development of Russian shelves, the expansion of cooperation between oil and gas companies and the development of fishery in the Barents Sea. An agreement on the detention of border violators in Russian and Norwegian territorial waters is expected to be signed soon.