“Russia and the EU face similar economic challenges, which is yet another argument for our further integration. Today we discussed coordinating our efforts, as well as the possibility of drafting long term development plans for specific sectors…”
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated that the merger of the aircraft industries of Russia and Ukraine is inevitable, but that the merger must be based solely on market principles. The prime minister explained that this will require an independent appraisal of the market value of the two countries’ aircraft companies. The prime minister emphasised that these appraisals must form the basis for deciding which sectors to merge and to what extent.
"We do everything we can to boost cooperation between Russia and Turkey. We have indeed achieved good results in energy, industry and agriculture."
“Russian-Finnish relations provide very good bearings for many other European countries as they form relations with the Russian Federation… It is certainly a factor of European stability,” the Russian Prime Minister said during a joint news conference.
Russia and Venezuela are strengthening their industrial, transport, high-tech and agricultural ties. “We intend to expand our cooperation with Venezuela, focusing on high-tech projects,” said Mr Putin. The Russian Prime Minister also stressed that the ultimate goal of Russian-Venezuelan relations is “to improve the lives of the people of our countries.”
"Ukraine is Russia's leading trade partner. Our national economies are closely interconnected. <...> More than that, we share special responsibility for European energy security. I am confident that there is no alternative but coherent, genuine teamwork focused on real results".
“I am confident that we will commemorate Victory Day honourably. We will pay due respects to those who perished in battle, and grant moral and material support to the veterans of the Great Patriotic War. It is our sacred duty,” said Prime Minister Putin.
“This is my fifth visit to India, and with each visit I become more convinced that relations between our nations are unique. I do not think Mr Manmohan Singh and I would have attained the present level of mutual trust, understanding and cooperation without the compassionate, friendly relations between the Indian and Russian peoples,” said the Russian Prime Minister, summarising his visit to India.
Russia considers Croatia to be its important and reliable partner in the Balkans and in Europe as a whole, Mr Putin said, adding that the talks had been highly successful. In turn, Ms Kosor said that they had discussed economic, energy and cultural cooperation, as well as the current and future dialogue on the South Stream.
“The time when I worked with Mr Sobchak was the most valuable part of my education. It was in that period that my basic principles of work and communication took shape. The fundamentals of my personal principles and behaviour probably began to develop much earlier, at home and later at the university, where I studied and he taught. However, my work with him had tremendous practical significance for me.”
The Russian prime minister does not think that energy use will change during the next 15-20 years, despite the rapid development of alternative energy. Hydrocarbons will not be replaced by other energy sources in the next 15-25 years.
“Today we have certainly discussed our ambitious joint projects, —in particular, the South Stream gas pipeline and the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The fact, that these two projects are crucial to Russia, Turkey and the whole of Europe both in terms of finding a solution to environmental problems, and in terms of ensuring reliable energy supplies to Europe, is, I think, indisputable.”