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Austrian chancellor notes Russia's role in maintaining close ties between Moscow, Vienna

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that Russia "traditionally shows more interest toward Austria and looks for more contacts with the Austrian government than the US"

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz EPA-EFE/CHRIS KLEPONIS / POOL

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz

© EPA-EFE/CHRIS KLEPONIS / POOL

WASHINGTON, February 21. /TASS/. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has noted Russia's positive role in looking for closer contacts with the Austrian authorities, unlike the US current adminsitration.

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Austrian chancellor sees easing tensions between EU, Russia as priority task for 2019

Kurz told ORF-2 TV channel after his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington that Austria is oriented toward exports so it maintains good contacts across the world because of its economic interests.

"I would not say that our relations with Russia are better than with other countries," the chancellor said. "Even more, Russia traditionally shows more interest toward Austria and looks for more contacts with the Austrian government than the US," he added. "I feel great in the middle - with good contacts in Europe, in the West and in the East, with good contacts with great powers," Kurz noted.

The Austrian chancellor noted that he already held four meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now he also met with US President Donald Trump. "We are maintaining consistent and solid conatcts with all sides," Kurz concluded.

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