Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Meets with Ibero-American Secretary General Enrique Iglesias

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

A meeting took place in Moscow on February 8 between Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Enrique Iglesias, Secretary General of the Ibero-American Community.

In a friendly and constructive atmosphere, questions were discussed pertaining to developments in the member countries of the Ibero-American Community, the prospects for strengthening its role in international affairs, and its objectives and activities in light of the latest Ibero-American Summit in Montevideo (Uruguay, December 2006). An exchange of views took place on the main thrusts in the development of relations between Russia and the Ibero-American Community, including their political dialogue and our country's possibly joining the cooperation programs being implemented in the Community framework. Problems in Russian-Latin American ties also were touched on.

A Memorandum of Cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ibero-American General Secretariat was signed at the end of the talks.

Lavrov and Iglesias expressed the mutual intention to continue a substantive political dialogue strengthening partner relations between Russia and the Ibero-American Community.

February 8, 2007