Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sends New Year greetings to foreign heads of state and government
Prime Minister Putin sent New Year wishes to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, and expressed confidence that 2012 would open up new opportunities for strengthening cross-border dialogue between Russia and Armenia.
In his congratulatory message to Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister Putin expressed satisfaction at the significant progress that had been achieved in the implementation of major joint projects in the fields of energy, engineering, technology and transport infrastructure, and the strengthening of scientific and cultural ties.
In his New Year message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Putin called for the further development of bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the people of Russia and Azerbaijan and in the interests of stability and security in the region.
Addressing Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh, Prime Minister Putin noted the successful progress in all areas of the strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan and expressed his confidence that 2012 would set new benchmarks for the further expansion of their bilateral relationship.
In his message to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister Putin pointed out that the establishment of the Common Economic Space on January 1, 2012 and work on the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union would further strengthen the partnership between Russia and Belarus, and contribute to the prosperity of the fraternal peoples of the two countries.
In his congratulatory message to Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, Prime Minister Putin noted with satisfaction the successful development of the cooperation between Russia and Belarus in all areas.
In his message to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Putin expressed confidence that the gathering pace of their joint efforts to create the Eurasian Economic Union would bring bilateral cooperation to a new level, boost the Russian-Kazakh partnership in the economy and in the energy and technology sectors, and give new impetus to scientific and educational contacts.
Addressing Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Prime Minister Putin noted that during the last year work had continued in implementing major projects in the fields of energy, engineering, space research and transport infrastructure, and that mutually beneficial contacts in science, education and culture had been strengthened.
In his message to Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Prime Minister Putin expressed confidence that in 2012 ambitious challenges would be tackled in building up their bilateral relationship through a series of joint projects in many different fields.
In his message to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Putin stressed that in the coming year the Russian-Tajik partnership would grow strongly in all areas for the benefit of the people of both countries and in the interests of stability and security in the region.
Congratulating Tajik Prime Minister Akil Akilov, Prime Minister Putin noted with satisfaction the development of friendly relations between Russia and Tajikistan.
Addressing Turkmen President and Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Prime Minister Putin expressed confidence that, based on strong traditions of mutual respect, the mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan would continue to grow in the coming year.
In his message to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Prime Minister Putin noted that in the past year, through their joint efforts, Russia and Ukraine had greatly boosted their partnership potential in all areas, achieved good progress in energy talks, and taken mutual steps in strengthening economic ties within the CIS countries.
In his message to Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Prime Minister Putin expressed confidence that their joint efforts would help them fully open up the rich potential of Russian-Ukrainian cooperation in all areas in 2012.
In his congratulations to Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Prime Minister Putin stated that the outgoing year had marked a milestone in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in political, trade and economic, and cultural spheres. Vladimir Putin also called for the constructive cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan to be steadily expanded in 2012, encompassing all new areas.
Prime Minister Putin sent congratulations to Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev and expressed confidence that the diverse partnership and alliance between Russia and Uzbekistan would continue to be an important factor in providing stability and security in Central Asia.
In his congratulations to Abkhazian President Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Putin noted with satisfaction that the past year had seen the strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia in the executive authorities and in business circles, an expansion of the legal contract base of cooperation and an intensification of economic and cultural ties.
In his message of congratulations to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Prime Minister Putin expressed the hope that Russian-British cooperation would be strengthened in all areas – in politics, economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education and culture.
In his message of congratulations to Chinese President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Putin stressed that the strategic partnership between Russia and China is developing rapidly in all areas; that in the outgoing year significant successes had been achieved in strengthening political, economic, trade and social-cultural cooperation; and that major joint projects had been launched in energy, engineering, transport infrastructure and technology. Mr Putin also expressed confidence that 2012 would be filled with new and interesting ideas and initiatives, including those of the forthcoming Year of Russian Tourism in China.
Congratulating Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Putin stressed that cooperation between Russia and China had reached unprecedented levels. Events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which marked the founding of Russian-Chinese relations, created a huge public response.
In his message to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Putin expressed his sincere gratitude for the unwavering support shown by Mr Sarkozy for the development of bilateral relations. Mr Putin called for the continued intensification of constructive cooperation between Russia and France – in the interests of the people of both countries and stability and security in Europe.
Congratulating French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Prime Minister Putin expressed the hope that, as a sign of the continued strengthening of the strategic partnership between Russia and France, 2012 would see an expansion of the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in politics, economics, science, education, culture and other areas.
Congratulating German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Putin noted the launch of a number of large-scale joint projects, including the first stage of the Nord Stream pipeline, and expressed confidence that in the coming year additional opportunities for mutually beneficial joint undertakings would open up. The cross-cultural Year of Russia in Germany and Year of Germany in Russia are destined to play a big role in this.
In his message of congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister Putin noted with satisfaction the rapid growth of Russian-Indian relations, which resemble a privileged strategic partnership. The continued development of the partnership and the implementation of joint projects are in the fundamental interest of both countries.
Addressing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, Prime Minister Putin stressed the significant results of the Russian-Italian partnership, and highlighted the success of the events as part of the Year of Russian Culture and Language in Italy and the Year of Italian Culture and Language in Russia.
In his New Year message to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister Putin noted that the Russian side intends to continue its efforts to strengthen bilateral ties in all areas.
In his message of congratulations to U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Putin noted with satisfaction that relations between Russia and the United States had continued to develop in the past year, and that through their joint efforts they had succeeded in achieving significant results in many areas, including the new START treaty coming into force and the completion of negotiations on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation. In Vladimir Putin's opinion, this reserve of goodwill will allow the continued reinforcement of Russian-American cooperation in all areas. "I am convinced that we can achieve a lot if we build our dialogue on the basis of equality and respect for the interests of one another," Mr Putin emphasised.
Prime Minister Putin also sent messages of congratulations to the heads of state and government and to prominent politicians and public figures of a number of other foreign countries.
