OSCE economic forum opens in Prague

On Tuesday, the 11th OSCE economic forum started its work in the Czech capital.

Andrei Denisov, deputy foreign minister and head of the Russian delegation stated that "among the most important subjects for discussion within the framework of the Praque meeting would be slave trade, illegal narcotics, and small arms trafficking." According to him, a serious discussion is to be held of the national and international economic consequences of illegal forms of trade. Denisov added that "Russia was extremely interested in expanding co-operation in the struggle against narcotics and would take an active part in the discussion".

The Russian deputy foreign minister indicated that the Russian delegation also planned to consider facilitation of economic co-operation within the OSCE framework.

Representatives of OSCE member states, various international organisations and financial institutions are attending the Prague meeting.

The Russian delegation consists of deputy foreign minister Andrei Denisov (head of the delegation), permanent Russian representative in OSCE Aleksander Alekseyev, well-known Russian economist Aleksander Livshits, Russian ambassador in the Czech Republic Igor Savolsky.