Dialogue with Russian foreign ministry

The Nordic Council of Ministers has intensified talks with the Russian foreign ministry about the legal status of its office in North-West Russia.

"I take the signals from the foreign ministry in recent days as a sign of a real desire for a constructive dialogue about the issue," says the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten.

The status of the St Petersburg office has been a matter of discussion for some time but became a live issue on 12 January when the local prosecutor's office in the city ruled that the Council of Ministers' activities in North-West Russia are political, something that requires official registration as a foreign agent under Russian law. The Secretary General regrets this interpretation.

"The Council of Ministers and the Nordic governments are treating this matter very seriously," he points out.

For the last two decades, the activities in St. Petersburg have been epitomised by a positive atmosphere of mutual trust and co-operation with Russia. The Council of Ministers is adamant that its activities in North-West Russia have steadfastly adhered to all agreements with the Russian Federation. The Council of Ministers and the Nordic governments are seeking a solution that will enable work in the area to continue.