VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: I'm happy to see you again, Mr President.
It's been exactly one year since the two of us met in Sochi, where you'd arrived to lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Russia's International Olympic University. (This institution) is now officially open. Among its first students are officials of the organising committee as well as regional leaders and the heads of Russian sport organisations.
We cooperate proactively with IOC experts, above all with (Jean-Claude) Killy (chair of the Coordination Commission) and Gilbert Felli, the IOC executive director for the Olympic Games. But not only them. This past May alone, we received six expert commissions and inspections from the International Olympic Committee. We try to comply with all your recommendations, above all with those related to environmental matters.
We have twelve athletic sites currently under construction. The total number of sites to be built is 464; 127 have already been completed, and 214 others will be completed by year's end.
We've recently completed and launched a new gas pipeline across the Black Sea bed. It will supply gas to an electrical power plant that is to be constructed within one year's time. This plant, known as Adler, and eight power substations are expected to cover almost two-thirds of Sochi's power requirements, including those of its 2014 Olympics sites.
At the moment, we're getting down to the construction of another gas pipeline to be laid across the highland areas. We plan to increase its capacity from 1.2 billion cubic metres of gas to 1.8 billion. We will ship another 3.8 billion cubic metres of gas by sea.
Additionally, work is currently underway to build new highways, bridges, tunnels, and water supply and sewage systems.
Infrastructure development work is underway on a large scale at 12 athletic sites.
The first test competition, the European Cup, was held [in Sochi] this year. Next year, we plan to hold 74 such competitions. And I'm sure that all the Olympic sites will be completed on schedule.
I'd like to thank you for your proactive involvement, Mr Rogge, and for your personal assistance with the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Jacques Rogge (via interpreter): Thank you, Mr Putin, for your warm words and explanations. I am aware of your progress in (Olympic) construction as a result of my talks with Messieurs Killy and Felli, whom you've just mentioned. We're very impressed, and we applaud you for your timely and high-quality work.
The first test competition, the European Cup, was, indeed, a success. Participating athletes all commented that the event had been beautifully organised. We still have 74 test competitions to go. I hope they will be just as successful and that they will allow the organising committee to see for themselves just how the preparations are progressing.
I'll have another chance to visit Sochi in November, when the Russian Olympic Committee celebrates its centenary. I'm sure that by that time, the city will have changed just as much as it has since my previous visit, so I may have some difficulty recognising it.
I'd like to thank you, Mr Putin, for your personal involvement in the efforts to develop the city and the surrounding region. You're a builder as well as a sportsman. Thank you for your commitment. As I've said, there's no doubt in my mind that the 2014 Winter Olympics will be an enormous event and an enormous success.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
