Russian, Austrian Foreign Ministers Discuss Situation In Middle East

Russian and Austrian Foreign Ministers Igor Ivanov and Benita Ferrero-Waldner discussed in Bucharest which is hosting the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers, the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In addition, the ministers exchanged opinions on the topical issues of the Bucharest agenda. The sides confirmed that Russia and Austria had similar standpoints on pressing issues of international security, particularly, on the fight against international terrorism, regional settlement and strategic stability. The ministers also discussed and supported the activity of the UN anti-terrorist centre in Vienna. Ivanov and Ferrero-Waldner discussed bilateral relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Austria gave an impulse to these relations and now there are favourable prospects for further development of cooperation in all spheres, particularly, in the economic sphere.