17/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The acting Presidents of the Committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe and OSCE, the Minister for Foreign Affairs for Ireland Brian Cowen and Austrian Benita Ferrero-Waldner, last week in Vienna took part, with the Secretaries General of the two organisations, in the eighth high-level "2+2" meeting. On this occasion, Mr. Cowen, Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner, Mr. Chwimmer and Mr. Kubis insisted on the need for Russia to continue playing its full part within the two organisations, as this would enable it to benefit from "their practical expertise in the carrying out of political and economic reforms", indicated a press release. The Council of Europe informed the OSCE of the recommendation by its Assembly that called for the opening of a suspension procedure against Russia, noted the press release (see EUROPE of 8 April, p.5).