MOSCOW, 14 Feb - RIA Novosti/Prime. The head of the government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Iceland Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson explained the reasons for the distribution in this country of the Russian food embargo, according to a report on the Internet representation of the Cabinet.

"They discussed issues of Russian-Icelandic trade and economic cooperation. Medvedev explained the reasons for the distribution in Iceland retaliatory economic measures imposed by the government of the Russian Federation concerning the countries that have joined the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union ", - is informed in the report.

the head of government stressed the importance of continuing the mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Iceland in the areas not affected by the restrictive measures.

It is noted that the conversation was initiated by the Icelandic side.

The government of the Russian Federation on Thursday announced the distribution of the food embargo in response to punishment, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Ukraine, though the latter suspended. In the press release of the Cabinet of Ministers stated that when deciding on the extension of its response to individual countries take into account " the degree of their involvement in the sanctions regime against Russia ".

sections: Politics