15 December 2002 00:00
TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IGOR IVANOV PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING TALKS WITH ALBANIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ILIR META (MOSCOW, DECEMBER 11, 2002)
As part of the official visit to Russia of the Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ilir Meta, we have held thorough talks on a full range of questions relating to bilateral cooperation and on a number of international issues, in particular, on the situation in the Balkans, around Iraq and in the Middle East.
With regard to bilateral relations both sides expressed a keen desire to develop these relations in all the areas of mutual interest. We have agreed to step up the political dialogue, and in the coming months to complete the work on the Draft Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries so as to present it for the approval of the leaderships of our countries. We also agreed to hold in the next few months a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. An inventory of the juridical base of our relations will be taken, and we will continue joint work on preparing a number of documents, treaties and agreements in various fields.
Within the framework of international efforts in fighting terrorism and organized crime, we agreed to stimulate contacts between law enforcement agencies of the two countries and to prepare appropriate bilateral documents to this effect.
I want to once again express gratitude to the Albanian leadership for the solidarity and support shown by it during the terrorist act in Moscow. Another display of that solidarity was the Albanian leadership's decision to bar entry into the country for a number of representatives of Chechen terrorist organizations.
We paid great attention to developing cooperation in the fields of science, education and culture. The Albanian side expressed interest in enlarging the number of Albanian scholarship holders studying in Russian colleges and universities. We regard this question most positively.
We examined in detail the situation in the Balkans. Russia is interested in a stable situation in the Balkans and intends to continue to work for just this course of events there. We agreed to maintain further the close contact between Russia and Albania in the interest of stabilizing the situation in the Balkans and developing this region within the framework of European integration processes.
As I have already said, we exchanged views on the situation around Iraq and in the Middle East and spoke in favor of a settlement based on existing UN Security Council resolutions.
Our talks were very frank and benevolent, and we hope that they will constitute one more step forward along the road of developing our bilateral cooperation.
Question: Mr. Ivanov, what can you say about the situation with the detention of a North Korean ship with a missile cargo now, do you have any additional information and what are the potential consequences of this situation?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: We have asked for the relevant information now. After its receipt and analysis we will be able to draw some conclusions.
Question: Recently Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi with regard to the inclusion of Kosovo in the document between Serbia and Montenegro said this inclusion will carry a destabilizing consequence. How do you assess this inclusion?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: As to the future of Yugoslavia, and in this matter I agree with the Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Meta, this choice is for the Yugoslav people to make. Therefore we will support the choice that will be made. Regarding Kosovo: this question must be dealt with on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 in the interest of stability and security in the region.
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