VIENNA, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Austria has reasonable, unbiased approach to assessment of Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted during his meeting with Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer on Tuesday.
The presidents of Austria and Russia plan to harmonize their positions on the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine.
Putin said that the two countries had “coinciding points of view on the situation in Ukraine but at the same time some issues should be coordinated.”
The Russian president also voiced his plans to talk to Fischer about development of economic ties and humanitarian co-operation.
Heinz Fischer welcomed Vladimir Putin’s initiative to have the parliament-given permission to use Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine revoked.
Revocation of resolution entitling Russia to use armed forces in Ukraine would contribute to normalization of the situation there, although it does not mean Moscow would not pay attention to events in Ukraine, Putin noted.
He expressed hope that the Russian army will not be needed in Ukraine and the revocation will contribute to normalization of the situation in the country.
Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, authorized Putin to use the armed forces in conflict-gripped Ukraine “until the situation normalizes” in the country in March. Putin never used the permission.
President Putin said at the meeting that he supported Ukrainian president Poroshenko’s intention to achieve results in truce.
Fischer expressed a view that Kiev ought to extend a helping hand to the eastern regions.
Commenting on the West’s sanctions against Russia over Moscow’s position on events in Ukraine, Heinz Fischer said it was better to “move closer to each other through talks” rather than imposing sanctions.
{article_photo:737603:'Putin Russia’s new gas pipeline projects have nothing to do with situation in Ukraine':'right':'50'}South Stream expedient and useful
The South Stream gas pipeline is expedient and useful, Austrian President Heinz Fischer said Tuesday at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom is implementing the South Stream project to diversify deliveries of natural gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine and reduce dependence on transit countries.
Austrian lawmakers and government delegations are to join the two heads of state after their meeting behind closed doors, Fischer said.