Synopsis
The Russian consulate in Istanbul reported advancements in financial services for diplomatic missions during talks with the US. The discussions included banking commitments, property returns, visa regulations, and resuming direct flights, focusing solely on diplomatic operations amid ongoing tensions regarding Ukraine.Key Takeaways
- Significant progress made on financial services.
- Agreements on banking and UN contributions.
- Roadmap for returning confiscated properties.
- Discussions on easing visa processes.
- Coordination for next talks ongoing.
Istanbul, April 11 (NationPress) The Russian consulate in Istanbul announced that significant progress has been achieved in securing banking and financial services for both Russian and US diplomatic missions during the latest round of bilateral negotiations in Istanbul.
During these discussions, delegations from the two nations exchanged diplomatic notes to formalize the agreed-upon commitments aimed at ensuring seamless banking and financial services for their diplomatic missions. This also includes the assurance of fulfilling the Russian Federation's obligations to the budgets of the UN and various international organizations, as stated in a press release from the consulate.
The two parties have also agreed to outline a roadmap for the return of six diplomatic properties that were confiscated by US authorities but are lawfully owned by Russia, according to the consulate.
Furthermore, the talks included discussions on streamlining visa processing and travel regulations for diplomatic personnel within the host nations, with the Russian side advocating for the resumption of direct air travel between the two countries.
The timeline for the subsequent round of negotiations is currently being coordinated, the consulate noted.
Earlier today, the US delegation concluded their second round of discussions on restoring diplomatic missions, departing from the Russian consulate in Istanbul after approximately five hours of meetings, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The primary aim of these talks is to resolve issues impacting the operations of both nations' embassies and consulates. The US State Department has made it clear that these discussions are strictly concerned with diplomatic operations.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Tuesday, ‘Ukraine is absolutely not on the agenda’. She emphasized that the discussions are solely focused on embassy operations and not on normalizing the overall bilateral relationship, which can only occur once peace is established between Russia and Ukraine.
The first round of discussions took place in Istanbul on February 27.
In recent years, both Washington and Moscow have expelled a considerable number of diplomats from each other’s nations, significantly impeding the effective functioning of their diplomatic missions.
