Economic relations of Russia with Austria and Sweden. Austria is Russia's main European partner

In trade economic sphere Russia and Austria are long-time partners. Economic cooperation between these countries is growing at a steady and predictable pace. But in last years, judging by the level of trade turnover and the growth of mutual investments, our countries are moving at an accelerated pace towards the formation of a full-fledged strategic partnership.

Austria and private companies from this country do not violate their obligations under economic agreements with Russia, which often happens with our counterparties from other countries. In general, our economic cooperation is carried out under the most favored nation regime.

In recent years, our relations in the economic sphere have been actively developing. This is happening against the background of the rise of the economies of the two countries, increased stability in the Russian financial and banking sectors, and improved conditions for the activities of foreign businesses in Russian market. As a result, the quantitative and qualitative indicators of Russian-Austrian trade and economic relations have only benefited from this. In 2007, bilateral trade turnover between Austria and Russia for the first time exceeded the $5 billion mark. In just the last three years, it has increased 2.9 times and continues to grow at a stable pace.

Austrian imports to Russia over the same three years increased 2.3 times due to a significant increase in Austrian high-tech exports to our country. A traditional component of Russian exports to Austria is the supply of energy resources, primarily natural gas. In this area, our partnership is stable and long-term. Thus, in September 2008, the Russian gas giant Gazprom and the Austrian concern OMV entered into an agreement to extend the validity of contracts for the supply of natural gas until 2027. Austria has thus become the first country with which we have signed such a long-term agreement. The agreement provides for the supply of 7 billion cubic meters of gas per year to the country; it also provides Gazprom with the opportunity to sell natural gas to end consumers.

In the future, the dominance of the raw material component in Russian supplies to Austria will gradually decrease due to the growing share of machinery, equipment and other highly processed goods in Russian exports. Among the new products that they are ready to offer to the Austrian market Russian companies- biodiesel, expander generators and other complex mechanisms.

Thus, today a project is being discussed to organize the production of biodiesel (inexpensive, environmentally friendly and efficient automobile fuel) in Russia with its subsequent supply to Austria and other European countries. The fuel will be produced on the basis of Russian rapeseed with its subsequent processing at a joint Russian-Austrian enterprise. Currently, several Russian regions are negotiating with Austrian partners.

Opportunities for increasing the volume of Russian-Austrian trade and, above all, the export of Russian non-commodity goods to Austria lie in intensifying cooperation between Russian and Austrian companies in the innovation sphere using venture financing. To do this, we would like to attract the attention of Austrian investors to the special economic zones, to projects for the development of modern Russian developments and know-how in aviation, energy, and environmental protection.

More than 1,200 Austrian companies operate on the Russian market. Few European countries can boast such an impressive presence in Russia. About 150 of them have their permanent representative offices in our country. In addition, in Russia there are about 500 business structures with full or partial participation of Austrian capital, 48 Russian regions, to one degree or another, maintain business ties with Austria. The accumulated volume of Austrian investments in the economy of the Russian Federation in 2008 amounted to $1.89 billion, which is 38.6% higher than in 2007.

The volume of direct Austrian investments at the end of 2008 amounted to $858.6 million, which was more than double the 2007 figure. But the structure of Austrian investments in the Russian economy does not yet reflect the full potential of Russian-Austrian investment cooperation. The share of the manufacturing sector in their total volume is only 15-20%.

A striking illustration of one of the most important areas of Austrian investment in Russia is the automotive industry. Now in Nizhny Novgorod, under license from the Austrian company Steyr Motors, they produce diesel engines for commercial vehicles produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant. Propulsion projects of the AVL company with Yaroslavsky are in the coordination stage motor plant. Thus, in July 2008, a presentation of a new Russian-Austrian diesel engine was held in Austria, mass production of which is planned for 2009. In addition, AVL is implementing a contract in Bashkiria to develop a new middle-class wheeled tractor and organize its production in 2009-2010. The volume of investment will be more than $90 million, and the annual production will be up to 4 thousand tractors.

Russia expects greater activity from Austrian business in the field of investment. Especially, increasing investment in the production sector. We are waiting for Austrian investments in the oil and gas refining and pulp and paper industries, in production building materials, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, in particular in the aircraft and automotive industries. Our cooperation in tourism, medicine and pharmaceuticals, as well as in the field of astronautics looks promising.

Austrian experience and technology would be very useful in our reformed agriculture and socio-economic sphere.

The creation of the Russian-Austrian Business Council has opened up new opportunities for Russia, including increasing the flow of investment into the regions. The fact that the Governor was appointed Chairman of the Russian part of the Council Samara region V.V. Artyakov gave Samara business additional prospects for development. As a region open to cooperation with foreign countries, a region with a high investment rating, the Samara province has high hopes for strengthening relations with Austrian partners.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Samara Region, as a member of the Russian-Austrian Business Council, is actively working to support business cooperation between enterprises in Austria and our region. A survey of Samara business was conducted, and this brought significant results, allowing us to draw a conclusion about high level interest of Samara enterprises in cooperation with Austrian partners. Already, leading companies in the province are declaring their desire to cooperate with Austrian enterprises - among these enterprises, more than 30 already have contacts with Austrian enterprises and want to expand them, and more than 25 express a desire to start business relations with Austria with the aim of further cooperation. Enterprises from other regions of the Volga region are also showing interest. federal district, as reported by territorial Chamber of Commerce and Industry http://old.strana.ru/stories/02/01/25/2408/107288.html.

As for Sweden, despite the fact that they are neighbors, direct trade between them was, for the most part, insignificant. There were reasons for this. Firstly, countries for a long time remained poor relatives in world trade, which means they did not represent great interest for each other. Secondly, in the 18th-19th centuries, Russia and Sweden offered almost the same goods to the market - timber and iron - so they were more likely to act as competitors than partners. IN Soviet time the development of Russian-Swedish trade was severely limited.

The only exception in the series of missed opportunities was the beginning of the 20th century, when rapidly developing Swedish engineering companies literally flooded the Russian market with technical products that were advanced at that time. The famous milk separators of Gustav de Laval were especially popular. Which in Russian villages were lovingly called “lavalki”. In 1916, already during the First World War, Swedish exports to Russia reached a record level, amounting to 8% of all Swedish exports.

IN in absolute terms Russian-Swedish trade grew at a fairly rapid pace until August 1998, when the financial crisis in Russia led to a reduction in trade between Russia and Sweden. According to the Swedish Central Statistics Agency, from 1992 to 1997 the volume of Russian-Swedish trade more than tripled (from 4.3 billion to 13.9 billion crowns). In 1998, a decrease in turnover of 18% was recorded, to 11.4 billion crowns. In January - November 1999 The volume of Russian-Swedish trade remained approximately at the level of January - November 1998, while Russian exports to Sweden increased by 36%, and Swedish exports to Russia decreased by 32%.

Mutual trade, although growing, is still dominated by Russian exports: according to the Ministry of Trade of the Russian Federation, in 1999 its volume amounted to $850 million, and counter imports amounted to $470 million. Meanwhile, the share of industrial semi-finished products and finished products in Russian supplies (petroleum products, scrap metal, non-ferrous alloys, industrial wood, furniture, textiles) exceeded 30 percent compared to approximately 20 percent in the mid-90s. In January - September of last 1999 alone, exports from Russia to Sweden - and non-commodity goods - increased by more than half.

Almost two-thirds of Russia's imports from Sweden consist of high-tech goods, primarily equipment; According to Swedish experts of the joint commission, the volume of these supplies will increase by coming years at least one and a half times: due to trade restrictions of other EU member countries in relation to Russia, the growth of its needs for modern equipment and difficulties with the sale of these Swedish products in the euro currency area, of which Sweden is not included.

The Swedish government does not rule out the possibility of eventually introducing a Swedish-Russian free trade zone and, within its framework, an “exchange” of tax and investment benefits, to which other countries in the region can then join.

According to experts from the Swedish Embassy in Russia, Swedish investors are well aware of the potential of the Russian market. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of Swedish investments remained in Russia after August 1998. In addition, the number of requests from Russian industrial enterprises regarding possible partners in Sweden is steadily growing. The embassy is confident that Russia will rise higher and higher in the list of Stockholm’s main trading partners (it currently ranks 25th).

According to Trade Counselor of the Swedish Embassy in Russia Jan-Olof Nyström, “Sweden can offer many goods, and not so much finished products as the technology for their production, including joint production. In our opinion, the economies of Russia and Sweden need such interaction. Introduction with modern Russian industrial products convinces that Swedish enterprises can increasingly trust their Russian partners to produce a variety of parts and components for them. And in general, Russia is certainly becoming an increasingly important trade and economic partner for Sweden.”

Since 1988, since the visit of then Prime Minister N. Ryzhkov to Sweden, attempts have been made to turn the Swedes into consumers Russian gas. Russia is even more interested in gas transit through Finland and Sweden to continental Europe. This issue took center stage at the interstate meeting in 1997, when Boris Yeltsin visited Stockholm on an official visit.

Sweden is also a supplier of investments to Russia. According to Rosstat statistics for 1996-1998, Sweden is among the ten largest foreign investors in Russia, ranking sixth in it, ahead of Italian, French, and Japanese investments. Moreover, they are concentrated approximately 75 percent in manufacturing industries (pulp and paper, telecommunications, metalworking, energy, construction industry, food, packaging). Swedish investors are strengthening their presence in the real sector of the Russian economy, primarily in the northwestern and central European regions. And one of the priority areas of Swedish investment in the coming years is joint development, implementation and export of resource-saving technologies.

Counselor of the Swedish Embassy in the Russian Federation Jan-Olof Nyström believes that Swedish investment in Russia is growing steadily. As J. Nyström believes, “Swedish companies are convinced that the importance of Russia for Swedish industry will increase in the near future. Today, about 200 Swedish companies are represented in Moscow and St. Petersburg alone. And in total, about a thousand companies from Sweden are active in the Russian market.”

In the European Union, Swedes advocate the abolition of discriminatory measures against Russian enterprises and the creation in the long term of a free trade area between the EU and Russia.

The Action Plan for 2009-2010 is currently in effect. It provides for very specific measures to develop trade turnover between our countries, on investment cooperation, cooperation in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, on banking issues, cooperation in the field of ecology, space, communications, forestry, customs and healthcare. All aspects of this cooperation were discussed in great detail. For example, take forestry. The parties stated that we have a lot to learn from each other in the field of forest management, their reproduction, their protection from harmful insects and diseases, and in forestry monitoring and planning.

Russia invited its Swedish partners to sign an agreement on the development of tourism between our two countries. Mention should also be made of the large projects already underway. One of them is the construction of a large Volvo plant in the city of Kaluga near Moscow. It will produce its first products in just a few days.

In February 1924 and discontinued in March 1938 after the Anschluss of Austria by Nazi Germany. In October 1945, diplomatic relations were restored at the level of plenipotentiary missions, which in 1953 were transformed into embassies.

Relations between the Russian Federation and Austria are characterized by stability and the absence of significant problems. Regular political contacts are maintained at the highest and highest levels.

A working visit took place on February 8-10, 2001, and official visits of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Austria took place on May 23-24, 2007 and June 24, 2014.

Federal President of the Republic of Austria Thomas Klestil visited Russia on an official visit on June 22-24, 2001, and on a private visit on February 14-15, 2004. Austrian President Heinz Fischer took part in the celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Victory on May 9, 2005. On May 18-21, 2011, Heinz Fischer made an official visit to the Russian Federation.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Heinz Fischer on September 23, 2009 in New York and on December 1, 2010 on the sidelines of the OSCE summit in Astana.

In January 2002 and December 2005, Federal Chancellor of Austria Wolfgang Schuessel visited Russia on a working visit. On November 10-11, 2009, Federal Chancellor Werner Fayman paid a working visit to Moscow, where he was received by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and held negotiations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. On April 24-25, 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was on a working visit to Vienna.

On October 17, 2014, on the sidelines of the ASEM summit in Milan, Russian President Vladimir Putin held work meeting with Federal Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann. The parties exchanged views on topical issues bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including on joint projects in the energy sector.

Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Economy of the Republic Reinhold Mitterlehner visited Moscow to participate in a meeting of the intergovernmental commission. During the visit, he was received by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Head meetings are held regularly foreign policy departments Russia and Austria (the latter - between Sergei Lavrov and the Minister of European, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz on October 30, 2015 in Vienna).

On June 30, 2015, a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov and the Federal President of Austria Heinz Fischer took place in Vienna.

Inter-parliamentary relations are maintained, dialogue is carried out through ministries and departments.

Trade and economic relations are developing. Since 2000, Austrian-Russian trade has developed very dynamically, but in 2014, due to the consequences of the Ukrainian crisis, a decline in positive dynamics was noted. In 2015, according to Austrian statistics, the volume of Austrian exports to Russia amounted to 1.6 billion euros (-40.5% compared to 2014), the volume of imports from Russia to Austria amounted to 1.9 billion euros (-1.9 % compared to 2014).

According to the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, in 2015 the foreign trade turnover of Russia and Austria amounted to $3,175.0 million, including Russian exports — $1,162.6 million, imports — $2,012.4 million. Austria's share in Russia's foreign trade turnover is 0.6%.

Austrian imports from Russia consist of more than 85% energy resources (oil, natural gas), followed by metals. Most the structure of exports from Austria includes mechanical engineering products, equipment, vehicles, as well as pharmaceutical products.

The volume of accumulated Austrian investments in the Russian economy by the end of 2014 exceeded $7.5 billion, including direct investments - $2.9 billion, Russian investments in Austria - about $6.4 billion, including direct investments - $4.6 billion dollars. Austria accounts for about 2% of all accumulated foreign investment in Russia; the country ranks 12th among foreign investors in the Russian economy.

There are over 1,200 Austrian companies operating on the Russian market, and there are about 500 companies with the participation of Austrian capital.

The main areas of Austrian investment are the construction and modernization of factories for the production of chipboards, pulp and paper mills, metallurgical plants, oil refineries, wood processing and wood processing enterprises, the production of building materials, and the banking sector. The main targets of Russian investment in Austria are enterprises in the woodworking and pulp and paper industries, the construction and metallurgy industries, automobile and aircraft manufacturing, telecommunications, banking and tourism.

Issues of bilateral relations in the field of trade and economics within the framework of the Mixed Russian-Austrian Commission on Trade and economic cooperation. The co-chairman on the Russian side is Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, on the Austrian side - Vice-Chancellor, Federal Minister of Science, Research and Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner.

The last meeting of the commission took place on February 2, 2016 in Moscow. As a result of the meeting, a plan for 26 joint projects worth 4 billion euros was signed.

In 2008, the Russian-Austrian Business Council began its work. From September 13 to 15, 2015, the 7th meeting of the Russian-Austrian Business Council was held in Moscow.

Positive interaction has been established between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries, through the Ministries of Justice and the Prosecutor General's Offices.

Traditionally important place Cultural ties are central to Russian-Austrian relations. Based on the intergovernmental Agreement on Cultural Cooperation of 1998, a number of targeted programs in the field of culture and art are being implemented, fruitful contacts are maintained between theater and musical groups and museums, libraries, and creative universities, and direct connections between cities and regions of the two countries are being developed and improved.

A significant milestone in Russian-Austrian cultural relations was the Seasons of Culture of Russia and Austria in 2013-2015, which were held for the first time in the history of bilateral relations.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

“Vienna and Moscow have always had a well-established communication channel, communication was open, the dialogue was successful,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in an interview with TASS. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, cooperation with Austria is characterized by “stability, predictability and the absence of significant problems.” What is the key to such positive relations between the two countries?

Diplomatic contacts

Compared to other EU member countries, relations between Russia and Austria are indeed at a high level.

“Austria is pursuing a policy of maintaining dialogue with Moscow, preserving the accumulated positive interaction in various fields, the use of political and diplomatic tools to normalize the situation around Ukraine,” says the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to the Austrian Embassy in the Russian Federation, over the past ten years, Russian and Austrian politicians and ministers have made dozens of official visits to Vienna and Moscow, respectively.

Thus, on February 28, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz held negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and on April 20, negotiations were held between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Sergei Lavrov and Karin Kneissl, in the Russian capital. At the end of May, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Morgulov received the Ambassador of Austria in Moscow Johannes Aigner. And already on June 5, Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Vienna took place - the first foreign trip of the Russian President after the May inauguration.

During the visit the head Russian state discussed with the Chancellor of Austria not only issues of strengthening bilateral political and economic ties, but also the state of relations between the Russian Federation and the EU.

The role of the mediator

When a number of European countries agreed to the expulsion of Russian diplomats because of the “Skripal case,” Austria did not join them. “We could have made a different decision, there are different arguments, but I think we have made the right decision", Sebastian Kurz said on a talk show on Puls 4, adding that Austria is a neutral country, in whose capital the headquarters of many international organizations(eg UN, OSCE and IAEA).

Every day, hundreds of diplomats negotiate in Vienna, on neutral ground, and we are developing our role as bridge-builder.

Sebastian Kurz

Austrian Chancellor

At the same time, the head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that Vienna “is open to everyone, and if we are asked to mediate efforts [between Russia and Great Britain], then we are happy to be ready for this.” At the same time, Kneissl added that the mediator “never imposes his services; mediation services are sought from outside.”

Economics and party connections

The economic component of relations between the two countries is on the rise. As Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Chancellor Kurz on February 28, in 2017 there was “an increase in trade turnover of more than 40%, Russian investments in the Austrian economy reached $23 billion, [Austrian] investments in the Russian economy - $5 billion.”

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In June, Kurz described the cooperation between the Austrian OMV and the Russian Gazprom as “extremely beneficial for both parties.” In the same month, Moscow and Vienna celebrated the 50th anniversary of cooperation in the gas sector - in 1968, the Republic of Austria became the first country in Western Europe to conclude a gas contract with the USSR.

Finally, it is noteworthy that back in 2016, the Freedom Party of Austria, part of the ruling coalition along with the Austrian people's party Sebastian Kurz, signed a five-year cooperation agreement with United Russia.

“It seems to me that inter-party and inter-parliamentary dialogue is extremely important due to the fact that today there is a significant lack of trust. This trust is lacking both within European politics and in relations between Russia and European Union", Vice-Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Pyotr Tolstoy told reporters in connection with the signing of the agreement.

Culture

“I am convinced that our cultural exchange. We are grateful to God that the Austrians are a cultural nation with rich traditions and history when it comes to music and art in general,” Sebastian Kurz told TASS.

The head of the Republic's Foreign Ministry, Karin Kneissl, also spoke about the special role of culture on the agenda of Russian-Austrian relations. “This year we are holding the cross Year of Music of Austria and Russia - 2018, within the framework of which numerous events of classical and modern music are organized in our countries,” the minister said, adding that The Year of Tourism of Austria and Russia - 2017 contributed to the development of contacts between Russians and Austrians.

And as part of Putin’s visit to Austria, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, with the support of Gazprom and OMV, will open the exhibition “Old Masters’ Canvases from the Hermitage,” which will present masterpieces of world painting, including from the collection of Empress Catherine II the Great.

Personal contacts

Finally, personal relationships between politicians play no small role in the Russian-Austrian dialogue. Thus, Vladimir Putin was very friendly with Thomas Klestil, President of Austria from 1992 to 2004. According to Austrian media, Russian President He even gave his colleague two Labrador puppies Koni, his favorite dog.

Karin Kneissl is the daughter of the ex-president of Austria - which will take place in the South Styria region on August 18 (the foreign minister will marry 54-year-old businessman Wolfgang Meilinger). In connection with his trip to Berlin, where the Russian President will hold a mini-summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin had the opportunity to accept the invitation.

We'll stop by and congratulate you.

Yuri Ushakov

Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation

The Kremlin is keeping secret for now what kind of wedding gift the president prepared. At the same time, it is well known that Putin carefully and humorously chooses his gifts, which always have a special meaning for those to whom he gives them.

The very fact of the invitation foreign politician for the wedding ceremony - this is rare case in world practice. And, undoubtedly, confirmation of the high level of relations between Moscow and Vienna.

Alexander Mosesov, Arthur Gromov.

The history of Russian-Austrian interstate contacts dates back to the end of the 15th century, when Grand Duke Ivan III and Emperor Maximilian exchanged ambassadorial missions. Relations with the Austrian court became regular under Peter I, who in 1698, as part of the Grand Embassy, ​​visited Vienna and met with Kaiser Leopold I.

Diplomatic relations The USSR with the first Austrian Republic was established in February 1924 and ended in March 1938 after the annexation of Austria by Hitler's Reich. In October 1945, diplomatic relations were restored at the level of embassies, which in 1953 were transformed into embassies.

Relations between the Russian Federation and Austria are developing positively.

Political contacts are maintained at a high level. In 1998 and 1999, the Chairman of the Russian Government visited Austria. In 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005. The Austrian Foreign Ministry made working visits to Moscow.

On February 8-10, 2001, the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin made a working visit to Austria. Federal President of the Republic of Austria T. Klestil visited Russia on an official visit on June 22-24, 2001, and on a private visit on February 14-15, 2004. On July 10, 2004, V.V. Putin, who was in Vienna to attend T.’s funeral. Klestil, met with the President of Austria H. Fischer. The Austrian President took part in the celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Victory on May 9, 2005.

On January 28-29, 2002 and December 2, 2005, Federal Chancellor of Austria W. Schussel visited Russia on a working visit. In May 2003, he took part in international meetings in St. Petersburg dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the city.

On October 14-15, 2003, May 14-15, 2005 and February 14-15, 2006, working visits to Austria by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs took place.

Interparliamentary relations are developing. In February 2001, a delegation was in Vienna State Duma led by G.N. Seleznev. In May 2001, E.S. Stroev visited Austria. June 27-30, 2002 then-President National Council Austria H. Fischer visited Moscow and St. Petersburg. In February 2005, Chairman of the State Duma B.V. Gryzlov met in Vienna with President of Austria H. Fischer and Speaker of the Austrian Parliament A. Kohl. In May 2005, S.M. Mironov visited Austria.

The legal framework of Russian-Austrian relations includes both agreements Soviet period, adapted to new conditions, as well as agreements concluded after 1991. The main document in the field of bilateral trade and economic relations is the intergovernmental Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation of November 8, 1993. In April 2000, the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation in regarding taxes on income and capital (came into force on December 30, 2002), in October 2000 - Memorandum between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Austria on financial support for joint projects implemented in Russia. On February 8, 2001, an Agreement on cooperation in the field of business support was concluded in Vienna. On January 28, 2002, an intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism was signed in Moscow.

Trade, economic and investment cooperation. According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, in 2005 a record level of trade turnover with Austria was achieved - 3.556 billion euros, which is 27.3% higher than the previous year. Russian exports - 2.113 billion euros, imports - 1.39 billion euros.

The basis of Russian exports are energy resources, mainly natural gas (more than 90% of Austrian gas imports), oil and petroleum products. Supplies of non-ferrous metals (12%), timber, cellulose, pharmaceutical and chemical products, and optics are carried out. The share of machinery and equipment in Russian exports to Austria remains extremely small (about 1%).

Russian imports from Austria are dominated by finished products (about 70%), among which machinery and equipment (37%) occupy a significant place, including metallurgical, instrumentation and medical devices. Important items of our imports are ferrous metals and products made from them, medicines, food, chemical products, clothing and footwear, paper and cardboard.

The accumulated volume of Austrian investments in Russia amounts to $1.6 billion, of which direct investments amount to $270 million. USA. More than 1,200 Austrian companies operate on the Russian market (150 have representative offices in Russia) and about 500 enterprises with the participation of Austrian capital. Almost 80% of Austrian capital investments are in the non-productive sector, incl. provision of trade intermediary, consulting and information services. Rest joint ventures are employed in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, pulp and paper, woodworking, medical and food industries, and in the construction sector.

Russia and Austria provide each other with most favored nation treatment in trade in the amount of General Agreement on tariffs and trade. The Austrian side supports Russia's intention to join the WTO and the OECD.

Since 1994, the Mixed Russian-Austrian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (IPC) has been operating. The co-chairs are: from the Russian side – Minister of Education and Science A.A. Fursenko; from Austrian – Federal Minister of Economics and Labor M. Bartenstein. The next session of the IGC took place in Kaluga in October 2006.

Interaction is being established law enforcement. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Austria maintain regular working contacts. In January 1990, an interdepartmental agreement was concluded on cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. In September 2005, during the visit to Moscow of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Austria L. Prokop, a Protocol on interaction between the Ministries of Internal Affairs of Russia and Austria for the period 2006-2007 was signed.

The participation of Russian regions in Russian-Austrian relations is expanding. In December 2005, a presentation of the Northwestern Federal District was successfully held in Austria with the participation of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District I.I. Klebanov. Previously, presentations of the Ural Federal District, Moscow, Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo, Perm regions, and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) took place in Vienna. September 17-22, 2005, the Days of Moscow in Vienna were a success.

In 2002-2005 Austria paid compensation to Russian citizens involved in forced labor during World War II on Austrian territory (an intergovernmental agreement on this issue was signed in November 2000). As of the end of December 2005, 12,257 people received compensation. for a total amount of 25.9 million euros. The voluntary payment program for former forced laborers provided for by the Law establishing the Austrian Reconciliation Fund has been largely completed.

In 2002 Main military prosecutor's office in accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation "On the rehabilitation of victims political repression"On October 18, 1991, the process of rehabilitation of Austrian citizens unreasonably repressed by the Soviet authorities was completed. More than 1000 appeals were considered, more than 660 people were rehabilitated.

Traditionally, cultural ties occupy an important place in Russian-Austrian relations. On the basis of the intergovernmental Agreement on Cultural Cooperation of 1998, a number of targeted programs in the field of culture and art are being implemented, fruitful contacts are maintained between theater and musical groups, museums, libraries, and creative universities, and direct connections between cities and regions of Russia and Austria are being developed and improved.

In April-May 2005 the Days took place Russian culture in Baden, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Austria from fascism. Austria was widely represented in the cultural program of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. In particular, in June 2003, concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of V. Gergiev took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg, organized with the personal assistance of the then Federal President of Austria T. Klestil.

The Russian side is considering the claim of the Austrian government for the return of a number of cultural property moved to the Soviet Union from German territory during the war. In November 2006, the Russian Government adopted a decree on the transfer to Austria of part of the archival funds of Austrian origin.

In Austria, the local security service (BVT) detained a retired 70-year-old army colonel on charges of spying for Russia. He is accused of allegedly transmitting information to Moscow about the migration crisis, artillery systems and military aviation since the late 90s. This event immediately led to a diplomatic crisis in relations between the two countries. And the day before it became known that some European countries had stopped or did not resume cooperation with Austrian intelligence because of its “ties with Moscow.”

An elderly retired staff colonel was detained at his home in Salzburg. Austrian media claim that he contacted his curator “Yuri” every two weeks and passed on secret information to him.

Over almost 20 years, he received somewhere around 300 thousand euros. In other words, by the standards of European espionage, he worked more out of enthusiasm. Or perhaps his “secret information” was worth just such a penny, especially if we remember that the migration crisis began much later than 1999.

In total, for working for the intelligence service of another country, he faces about two years in prison and not a day more. Such humanism of the Austrian criminal code can be associated both with the advanced age of the suspect and with the minimal nature of the damage he caused national security Austria. He held a minor post on staff Austrian army, and it is unclear what classified information he had access to. Especially after his resignation.

It is alleged that before his arrest, the colonel was engaged in compiling profiles of high-ranking military officers in Austria and analyzing the consequences of the migration crisis, and also undertook unsuccessful attempt destroy evidence.

Some Austrian media claim that the information implicating the Salzburg military pensioner as a Russian agent came from “the intelligence service of a friendly country.” But at the same time, the Austrian Army Security Service emphasized that the arrest of the suspect was almost forced, since he received Russian services a message that he was exposed and could allegedly try to evade responsibility.

Austrian Defense Minister Mario Kunasek intends to summon Russia's military attaché in the country in the case of a retired Austrian colonel suspected of allegedly spying for the Russian Federation. “Espionage activities against a neutral country are unacceptable,” Kunasek said.

“This case proves that even after cold war neutral states are the target of espionage. This demonstrates how important a dense and effective security network is. This case became a reason for us to strengthen counterintelligence measures in the field of cyber defense,” the minister added. What does cyber defense have to do with it, however, is unclear.

The 70-year-old retired colonel could hardly set up Wi-Fi at home and met with some “Yuri” in the old fashioned way. And, according to the press service of the Austrian Ministry of Defense, he transmitted secret data in the form of “encrypted letters” and via satellite communications (that is, essentially, by telephone) also using encryption equipment, which is also far from a computer innovation.

Most likely, this statement by Mario Kunasek is a tribute to the general fashion for Russian hackers, who so far have nothing to do with this case.

Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl canceled her visit to Moscow, which was planned for December 2-3. “The head of the Foreign Ministry responded to this (information about suspicions against the ex-colonel - note VZGLYAD),” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told reporters on Friday. Also, Kurz, Kneissl and Kunasek plan to make some kind of joint statement on the preliminary results of the investigation.

All this collectively means the beginning of a diplomatic crisis in relations between Russia and Austria, with which Lately Traditionally, relations have been close to friendly. Moreover, the crisis will develop regardless of the nature of the information conveyed by the suspected pensioner.

A few days earlier, the Austrian newspaper Falter disseminated information that the Finnish intelligence service SUPO had excluded its Austrian colleagues from the BVT intelligence service from a pan-European distribution. In practice, this resulted in the fact that the Finns, conducting routine checks Russian diplomat, who is due to start working at the Russian Embassy in Helsinki, sent formal requests for his identity to all “allied” European intelligence services. Everyone except the Austrians. Additionally, SUPO asked to completely exclude BVT from the general mailing due to its alleged unreliability. And back in the summer, the Germans doubted the reliability of the Austrian intelligence service.

The Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which administratively includes BVT, confirmed the authenticity of the letter received from Helsinki with a request to suspend the mailing, that is, in practice, to interrupt cooperation with Austrian intelligence and counterintelligence. However, according to the head of the press service of the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Christoph Peltz, exclusion from the list “does not mean that BVT does not enjoy trust among colleagues.” Having said this dregs, Peltz refused to comment further.

His Finnish counterpart Jüri Rantala did roughly the same thing. He, however, found himself in a difficult position, since the very fact of which intelligence agencies the Finnish SUPO cooperates with is in itself secret information. Rantala did not comment on it, limiting himself to the fact that “SUPO always guides primarily the interests of Finland.” Who would doubt it.

But indirectly, Rantala nevertheless pointed out the presence of information leaks not from Finland: “Intelligence service employees work under various covers so that their activities are not exposed. Working under the guise of being a diplomat is probably the most traditional and very common method.”

Rantala recalled that the security situation has changed rapidly in recent years: “At the same time, information leaks can complicate our work and the work of our partners. At worst, it could endanger the life of the source and his loved ones.”

When asked directly about the exclusion of Austria from the mailing list, the Finns reluctantly admitted that this was an unusual case and that this does not happen every day. Austrian newspapers even suspected the pedantic Finns of making a banal mistake. Someone allegedly simply forgot to check the box next to the word “Austria” in the newsletter. But what followed official letter from Helsinki with a request to completely “disconnect” BVT from information, the Finns were cleared of the charge of inattention, which was monstrous for their national character.

Initially, one might get the impression that by detaining the elderly colonel right now, BVT simply hastened to disavow the accusations against itself. The Finns can still be tolerated, but the accusations from the Germans could already be critical. Perhaps several factors came together here. Including the notorious signal “run, everything is open,” which was allegedly transmitted to the colonel, and silent Finnish suspicions, and difficulties general in relations between Vienna and the European Union.

Of particular interest is the message that the BVT pensioner was targeted by some “friendly intelligence agency.”

BVT clearly wanted to further emphasize that they still have friends and the Finns are exaggerating everything. But, on the other hand, it is very interesting who these dear friends are. Considering the long-standing habit of meeting agents in third countries and the age of the agent, we can assume that he traveled nearby. Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland - this is the BVT circle of friends. Something needs to be corrected in tactics here.

But, in principle, the arrest of a suspected espionage and the public disclosure of this fact on the eve of the Foreign Minister’s visit to Moscow is a very strange event. Either BVT is playing some kind of cunning internal Austrian game, or is trying to correct its image using this method, or - what may be the most unpleasant thing - is following the lead of third countries.

Here it is appropriate to remember again about the “alien tip” on the pensioner. Someone pushed BVT to take such a drastic step, leaked information to the Austrian press and thereby actually forced both the Foreign Minister and the Chancellor to make harsh accusations against Moscow. And these are clearly not Finns.