Press release on Russian-French foreign policy consultations conducted by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov

On September 16-18, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov visited Paris where he met with Jacques Audibert, diplomatic advisor to the French President, participated in bilateral ministerial consultations with Director-General for Political and Security Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry Nicolas de Riviere, and directors of relevant departments of the French Foreign Ministry. He also held talks with Jean-Pierre Chevenement, a special representative of the French Foreign Ministry for relations with Russia and Permanent Secretary of the French Academy Helene Carrere d'Encausse.

On September 17, Mr Meshkov attended the conference, “Russia and France: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, organised by the Dialogue Franco-Russe Association.

During the exchange of views on Ukraine, the Middle East, the future of Russia's relations with the EU and NATO and the prospects of working together in the Council of Europe and OSCE, both sides expressed the desire to pass through this difficult foreign-policy period as soon as possible, preserving the potential for cooperation in various fields as accumulated by Russia and France.

Both sides reaffirmed their desire to continue their international cooperation and commitment to jointly address bilateral issues.

September 18, 2015