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Lavrov backs Steinmeier’s motivation to work with Russia’s regions

The top diplomats discussed bilateral relations in political, cultural, humanitarian and historical areas

© EPA/ESTEBAN BIBA

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YEKATERINBURG, August 15. /TASS/. The desire by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to work with Russia’s regions deserves full support, Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, declared on Monday following talks with his German counterpart.

During the discussions, the two sides agreed to "encourage contacts between government agencies, between regions in the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany," Lavrov stated. "We believe that interest shown by Frank-Walter (Steinmeier) in working with Russia’s regions deserves all kinds of support," he acknowledged.

According to Lavrov, the two diplomacy chiefs also discussed bilateral relations in "political, cultural, humanitarian and historical areas."

"Together with our German colleagues, and Frank-Walter personally, we will focus on striving to address issues, especially humanitarian ones, which were left over for us to deal with as a legacy following World War Two," he said. "We have a number of rather useful mutual projects, such as supporting former concentration camp prisoners, clarifying the fates of Russian and German prisoners of war and internees. This is very important for the consolidation of attitudes in our society, which, of course, welcomed the historic reconciliation between our two countries."

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