During his tour to Vienna, the Russian foreign minister will meet with the country's President Heinz Fischer, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, and Foreign Minister Usrula Plassnik.
Upon Austria's request, Russia agreed to exhibit the original of the State Treaty for the Re-establishment of an Independent and Democratic Austria. Official Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko described the move as unprecedented in an interview with RIA Novosti, saying that "until now, there have been no examples in the world practice of withdrawing effective multilateral treaties beyond the holder state."
For the record: after the WWII, Austria and its capital Vienna were divided into four occupation zones between France, UK, the United States, and the USSR. After a long debate, the State Treaty was signed in Vienna on May 15, 1955, stipulating the rights of Slovenian and Croat ethnic minorities as well as broader issues, such as the freedom, independence, territorial integrity of Austria, and ban on its joining Germany.
Yakovenko called a relationship between Russia and Austria good, stable, and predictable. He says both countries have been developing economic ties as well, reaching an all-time high of �2.64 billion in turnover in 2004.
Later today, Sergei Lavrov will leave Vienna for Warsaw.
