Russian-Spanish political consultations held in Madrid

The development of trade, economic and investment cooperation is a priority in Russian-Spanish relations, said the participants of bilateral political consultations in Madrid, according to the Russian foreign ministry's press and information department.

The regular 4th session of the joint Russian-Spanish intergovernmental committee on economic and trade cooperation due in Madrid is becoming of special importance, the participants stressed.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the dynamics of bilateral relations, acquired after the May meeting between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, as well as after the Moscow visit of the Spanish heir to the throne, Felipe, Prince of Asturias, whose visit had coincided with the 25th anniversary of restoration of Russian-Spanish diplomatic relations, the foreign ministry said.

The participants discussed cooperation between Russia and the EU, taking into account Spain's chairmanship in the EU in the first half-year of 2002. Special attention was paid to life sustenance in the Kaliningrad region, Russia's enclave in the Baltic, in the context of the EU expansion.

They considered ways of counteracting new challenges and threats, and forming new relations between Russia and the NATO.

The parties also touched upon settlement of regional conflicts, first of all in the Middle East and in the Persian Gulf, the Russian ministry informed.

The political consultations were attended by Russian deputy foreign minister Alexei Meshkov and Spanish first deputy foreign minister Ramon de Miguel.