MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Austrian Armed Forces are ready to develop cooperation with Russia, despite recommendations of other world powers, the Chief of the General Staff of the Austrian Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Othmar Commenda said Wednesday.
Commenda arrived in Moscow on Tuesday with the high-level Austrian delegation led by President Heinz Fischer.
"I'm not going to follow the guidance and obey someone's orders with whom to communicate and do not communicate. It is the reason why I wanted to visit you," Commenda told the head of Russia’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, expressing gratitude for the invitation to visit Russia.
"Only together we can solve these problems, and Russia for Austria is much closer than other great powers. We are ready to work together within our abilities where it makes sense," Commenda pointed out.
The Austrian military official added that he was interested in the Gerasimov’s personal assessment of the situation in the Middle East.
