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Austrian top diplomat says Skripal poisoning not proved, requires investigation

Austria prefers to keep the channels of communication with Russia open, top diplomat says

VIENNA, March 29. /TASS/. The poisoning of the former Russian military intelligence officer and British spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury has not been proved so far and it requires thorough investigation, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said in Vienna on Thursday.

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Austria fends off London’s pressure over its refusal to expel Russian diplomats

"We’ve come across an incident, the circumstances of which require investigation," she told reporters.

Kneissl also said Austria preferred to keep the channels of communication with Russia open in this situation and to refrain from sending the Russian diplomats away, since other diplomatic instruments enabling a proper reaction to any suspicions always exist.

"We’ve never practiced the expulsions of diplomats because diplomacy means something bigger than reciprocal memorandums," she said. "It means working over nuances.".

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Skripal poisoning case

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