Events

Valentina Matvienko: Federation Council appreciates Austria's bid to develop mutually beneficial relations with Russia

The Federation Council Speaker met with President of the National Council of the Austrian Republic


Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko had a meeting with President of the National Council of the Austrian Republic Wolfgang Sobotka. The meeting was attended by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev, member of the Federation Council Committee on the House Rules and Parliamentary Governance and Head of the Group on Cooperation with the Federal Council of the Austrian Republic Valery Ponomarev, and a member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, a member of the Group on Cooperation with the Federal Council of the Austrian Republic Oleg Morozov.

“We highly appreciate the independent position of Austria, which seeks to develop mutually beneficial relations with Russia. We consider it very important to continue dialogue at all levels,” Valentina Matvienko said.

The Speaker lauded the trade and economic relations and investment cooperation between the two countries, as well as the long-standing and constructive activity of the Russian-Austrian Business Council.

“Effective cooperation mechanisms have been created. The two countries' business circles are interested in promoting the established traditions. This mood should be encouraged.”

The Speaker emphasised the need to bolster inter-parliamentary cooperation. Valentina Matvienko also praised the work of inter-parliamentary friendship groups.

“Many Russian regions have been actively cooperating with the lands of Austria. This cooperation yields good results both in the economic and humanitarian spheres. We hope that Austrian MPs will assist in these depoliticised contacts, including cultural events that traditionally attract large numbers of people,” Valentina Matvienko said.

She thanked the Austrian government and citizens for taking care of the memory of the Soviet solders who liberated Europe from Nazism.

“Austria is one of the countries that do not attempt to rewrite history or glorify the Nazis and their collaborators,” Valentina Matvienko said.

Wolfgang Sobotka, for his part, called for deeper bilateral contacts and supported the need to continue inter-parliamentary cooperation.

He expressed concern at the rebirth of nationalist and chauvinistic ideas in some European countries.

Austria, he said, will honour the memory of the soldiers-liberators and keep this memory alive.

Wolfgang Sobotka underscored the importance of Russian-Austrian youth exchanges and the need to promote them. He urged the two countries' MPs to take an active part in this work with the prospect of extending it for a longer term.

During the meeting, Valentina Matvienko and Wolfgang Sobotka touched upon European matters, including the situation in the European Union and Ukraine.