PRESS RELEASE

Consultations took place in Moscow on December 4 between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile Alberto Van Klaveren.

An exchange of views was held on a broad range of issues in bilateral cooperation and topical themes of the international agenda.

The sides noted the growing dynamics of political dialogue between Russia and Chile, to which the meeting of President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and President of the Republic of Chile Michelle Bachelet, held at the end of November on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, has imparted a powerful impulse. Considerable attention was paid to the questions of the preparations for the scheduled 2009 visit of Michelle Bachelet to Russia, the strengthening of the juridical base of bilateral relations, the development of Russian-Chilean economic and trade cooperation and to examination of the thrust areas for its further buildup.

A useful comparing of notes on international themes took place, including UN affairs and interaction in different formats on human rights problems. Among other issues examined during the consultations: integration processes in Latin America, the outcome of the recent visit to the region of Russian President Medvedev and the nonproliferation dossier.

The intention was reaffirmed to continue on a regular basis the practice of political consultations at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers as an important mechanism for maintaining contacts between the foreign affairs agencies of the two countries.

December 4, 2008