Russia hopes for neutral Austria

VIENNA - The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, said yesterday he hoped Austria would not give up its neutrality …

VIENNA - The Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, said yesterday he hoped Austria would not give up its neutrality and join NATO but stressed that membership of a military alliance was solely a matter for the Austrian people.

Mr Primakov said NATO membership should not be linked with Austria's entry into the European Union EU last year, which Moscow supported.

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