Russian first deputy foreign minister in Norway to discuss bilateral relations, international issues
MOSCOW. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Russia's First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov has discussed Russian-Norwegian relations, in particular, the Russian presence on Spitsbergen, during a visit to Oslo.
"The parties considered possible measures to overcome the slump in bilateral trade, the stagnation of a number of cooperation mechanisms, cooperation in core industries, border cooperation, and efforts to improve the legal and contractual framework," the ministry said on its website after Titov met with Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende and held consultations with the Norwegian Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Tore Hattrem.
"The issue raised with the Norwegians concerned the Russian presence on the Spitsbergen archipelago," the ministry said.
The diplomat also stressed the need for a dialogue over the increase in instances of Norwegian social services taking children away from their Russian parents who reside in Norway.
Titov and the Norwegian diplomats also expressed mutual interest in advancing cooperation as part of the Arctic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Barents Regional Council and Northern Dimension cooperation.
The parties "verified their approaches towards pressing topics of the global agenda, including European security, the situation in Ukraine, the Middle Eastern peace process, the situation in Syria and the fight against terrorism in the region, the migration crisis in Europe, and progress in the implementation of agreements over Iran's nuclear program," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.