Austria interested in mutual recognition of coronavirus vaccination certificates with Russia - Federation Council speaker

VIENNA. Sept 7 (Interfax) - Austria is interested in mutual recognition of coronavirus vaccination certificates with other countries, including Russia, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.

"Austria is interested in mutual recognition of certificates, not just with Russia, but also with other countries. [...] This is the policy they are pursuing," Matviyenko said after meeting with the heads of the Austrian parliament in Vienna on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament.

"In the beginning, Austria wanted to buy Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, and an agreement on purchasing 1 million doses of Sputnik was drawn up. Yet, the European Union has stronger discipline than an army. It was prohibited, no way to of doing that without recognition, and they keep stalling," she said.

Vienna has influence on the EU's agenda and always expresses its stance in public, Matviyenko said.

On Tuesday, Matviyenko met with the heads of the Austrian parliament, Federal Council President Peter Raggl and National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka.