Moscow. September 17. INTERFAX-Russia and Italy are preparing a meeting of the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries in the "two plus two" format, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
According to the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, on Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko held talks in Moscow with the Director of the Department for Political Affairs and Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Pasquale Ferrara, " on the preparation of a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Russian Federation and the Italian Republic in the "two plus two"format.
Representatives of the defense departments of the two countries also took part in the consultations.
"The format and agenda of the upcoming ministerial meeting were discussed. During the meeting, a number of topical issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed, with an emphasis on the development of multifaceted cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields. The sides exchanged views on key international issues, including European security, Russia's relations with the European Union and NATO, and the situation in the Balkans. Special attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan, " the report says.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that during the consultations, " they will emphasize the mood for further development of contacts between the foreign and defense departments of the two countries in the interests of an effective and balanced solution of urgent international problems."