Foreign Minister Støre and Lavrov meet in Moscow

March 25, 2009

During their meeting in Moscow today, the foreign ministers of Russia and Norway expressed their intention to strengthen cooperation in the Euro-Arctic Barents Council and the Arctic Council, reports the Barents Observer. The Telenor-Alfa dispute was also a topic during the meeting.

“We see a gradual development of Russian-Norwegian relations, aimed at the implementation of joint projects,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov at the meeting with Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“Both Russia and Norway are tuned towards a further development of intensive political dialogue, a strengthening of the legal basis for the cooperation, an extension of trade and economic relations, enhanced interaction within the fields of energy, fisheries and ecology,” said Lavrov.

In an interview with RIA Novosti earlier this week, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrey Nesterenko positively commented on Russian-Norwegian relations.

The Telenor-Alfa dispute was the main topic during the meeting reports Telenor on its website. ”This is a major and serious issue in the relationship between Norway and Russia. A negative development will not influence our relationship to Russia positively, ” said Gahr Støre after the meeting.

Source: BarentsObserver / Telenor.