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: Mr President, I am very glad to meet you here ... and I am glad to have this opportunity to get acquainted with you.
The history of relations between Russia and the United States has been long-standing, with many occasions and events of different colour: there have been years of absolute flourishing of our bilateral relations; there have also been rather grey days between our two countries and even confrontation. With you we associate all our hopes for the development of Russian-US relations. We are very glad to see you here and greet you here in Russia.
Welcome!
Barack Obama: Thank you. I very much appreciate you taking time to meet with me. I think we had excellent discussions with the President yesterday. And I'm aware of not only the extraordinary work that you have done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as President, but in your current role as Prime Minister. We think there's an excellent opportunity to put US-Russian relations on a much stronger footing. ... and we may not end up agreeing on everything but I think that we can have a tone of mutual respect and consultation that will serve both the American people and the Russian people well.
So thank you very much. I look forward to a very useful exchange of ideas.
Vladimir Putin: We have prepared for you a Russian-style breakfast.
Barack Obama: I want to thank the Russian Prime Minister for arranging such good weather for us in Moscow.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Barack Obama: Thank you.
