VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN

Point of View

1 february
2010
Russia in Global Economy 72

In 2004 and 2005 we began discussing the issue of writing off a large portion of the Iraqi national debt to the Russian Federation. We eventually came to an agreement with the Iraqi government and wrote off an unprecedented 90%, which is also a large amount in absolute terms, over $10 billion. Iraq is still in a predicament, but the situation was even worse at that time. Our efforts were meant as support and assistance for the new Iraqi leadership in their aspirations to restore the country's economy. From the very beginning we anticipated that the Iraqi government would welcome our oil and gas companies' entrance into the Iraqi oil market. What has happened is a positive result of this, a welcome event.

Vladimir Putin
At a meets with LUKoil President Vagit Alekperov, Moscow, February 1, 2010
27 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"I would like to single out the intergovernmental agreement on labour migration. It greatly facilitates the procedure and paperwork for entry for enterprise managers, the staff of offices and subsidiaries. It envisages considerable preferences for high-skilled specialists as well as young people who want to acquire an education or a new profession in one of our two countries."

Vladimir Putin
At the 14th meeting of the Russian-French Commission on Bilateral Cooperation held at the level of prime ministers, France, November 27, 2009
27 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"I don't even need to mention hydrocarbons. Here, French companies enjoy most favoured status. They are expanding their presence in extraction ventures and now will take part in transport. Major Russian and French companies are expanding cooperation to new levels. They plan to exchange assets, starting today. This is very important."

Vladimir Putin
At the 14th meeting of the Russian-French Commission on Bilateral Cooperation held at the level of prime ministers, France, November 27, 2009
27 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"French companies are increasing their investment in the Russian economy. I told Mr Prime Minister that France has surpassed the United States in this respect, and this is not the limit. We are convinced that Russian businesses will invest much more in the French economy and vice versa. For our part, we will do everything to facilitate this process."

Vladimir Putin
At the 14th meeting of the Russian-French Commission on Bilateral Cooperation held at the level of prime ministers, France, November 27, 2009
17 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"However, the Russian petrochemical industry has one great competitive advantage: It has a unique resource base. Russian and foreign investors see significant potential in the industry. Modernising it will not require massive government support. It is true that infrastructure support and legal maintenance are required, with state guarantees sometimes needed as well. But these are cost-effective measures, and it is easy to find financial resources in the market."

Vladimir Putin
At a meeting on developing the Russian gas and petrochemical industry, Tatarstan, November 17, 2009
17 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"Russia accounts for 9-10% of the world's crude oil exports. However, the Russia's export share for high-technology conversion products such as polymers stands at only 1%. Moreover, imports account for over a third of domestically consumed petrochemical products. Simply put, we export crude oil and import final products, which are often produced from Russian crude. This doesn't mean that we must close the Russian market to imports. The situation must be changed in the industry, and we must create conditions for increasing exports of products with high added value."

Vladimir Putin
At a meeting on developing the Russian gas and petrochemical industry, Tatarstan, November 17, 2009
9 november
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"New Russia had to start building a market economy and creating modern legal institutions practically from scratch, in very difficult conditions. Our partners – foreign companies which invested in Russia – did not find it easy, either. Nevertheless, I am confident that the majority of our foreign partners did not regret their choice. This is demonstrated by numerous successful projects in the Russian economy."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, Moscow, November 9, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"It is important to make the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) more effective, and step up the formation of an efficient anti-drug mechanism within the SCO. The heads of the agencies concerned agreed on this at their meeting last May."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"As for cultural, we have encouraging prospects to expand joint educational projects and youth contact within the SCO. We have established a regular practice of Education Weeks and forums for university rectors. The SCO Youth Council has also been a success. The SCO University will probably open soon, too."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"We have already drafted an action plan. The joint actions are listed in today's Statement on fighting infectious diseases. We also propose discussing an arrangement to coordinate the actions of the member states' medical services in such emergencies."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"The developments in our region, especially in Afghanistan and around it, call for more energetic and coordinated actions from foreign ministries and security agencies. We know how much effort our Afghan counterparts are making and must support them as much as we can."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"We should make full use of the advantages and benefits of cooperation in the post-crisis period of development. The Joint Initiative of Global Economic Crisis Counteraction, which we are to adopt today, provides a good basis for this. This document will allow us to coordinate anti-crisis measures within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"Economic problems inevitably arise due to labour migration. In accordance with the agreements reached at our previous meeting in Astana, we have begun a discussion on a range of related issues. It is important that this discussion cover policies against illegal migration, and readmission, and the streamlining of procedures for legal guest workers to protect their rights and legal interests. We must protect them, but we will only be able to do so when the procedures are well-regulated."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
14 october
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"Coordinated efforts by customs services of the member-countries, depending on the competence and mutual understanding of their staffs, are also important. Coordinating the actions of member state customs services is also important and depends on staff competence and a level of mutual understanding. The protocol on cooperation in training and advanced training of customs officers, also to be signed today, will help significantly increase efficiency. In addition, we have discussed improvement of customs services' interaction at a bilateral meeting with our Chinese colleagues."

Vladimir Putin
At the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of Government Council, Beijing, October 14, 2009
11 september
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"As for Opel, I hope the contract is one of the first steps leading to European economic integration. Every cloud has a silver lining, and the crisis has laid bare many of the problems of mismanagement. This concerns many Western companies, among others, and General Motors is no exception."

Vladimir Putin
At a met with members of the sixth Valdai Discussion Club, Moscow, September 11, 2009
11 september
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"It might be easier today, however, to settle problems with countries with which Russia has lasting economic and political ties. Germany is Russia's principal partner in Europe and the world. Our number one partner in many respects. Exports to Russia have helped Germany retain several hundred thousand jobs. The fact is worth repeating: because Russia consumes German commodities and services, several hundred thousand Germans kept their jobs due to our partnership."

Vladimir Putin
At a met with members of the sixth Valdai Discussion Club, Moscow, September 11, 2009
1 june
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"As I have said, I am pinning great hopes on the expansion of Magna's presence - in particular, on sharing a part of its knowhow with Russia. I hope it will tell on Russian industrial production."

Vladimir Putin
Meeting with Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko, Sberbank President German Gref and Magna International Co-Chief Executive Officer Siegfried Wolf, Moscow, June 1, 2009
1 june
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"The troubleshooting plan proposed by such an influential company as Magna has been recognised as the best possible option for investors and, even more so, for Opel employees in Germany and other countries. That is essential. I am interested in it, to an extent, because Opel has two plants in Russia."

Vladimir Putin
Meeting with Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko, Sberbank President German Gref and Magna International Co-Chief Executive Officer Siegfried Wolf, Moscow, June 1, 2009
1 june
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"As for purchasing Opel stock, I want to make it understood from the start that the Russian Government is not directly involved but approves Sberbank's participation in the transaction. This is primarily because Sberbank is one of the largest creditors of the Russian automotive industry and has long-established contacts with it."

Vladimir Putin
Meeting with Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko, Sberbank President German Gref and Magna International Co-Chief Executive Officer Siegfried Wolf, Moscow, June 1, 2009
12 may
2009
Russia in Global Economy 72

"As for the second line of the ESPO pipeline project, we have not removed this issue from the agenda. We will address it as the production rate grows in East Siberia. [Russian] companies tell us they are prepared to produce 50-80 million metric tons [of oil] annually there. This would be enough to fill the pipeline and make it commercially expedient."

Vladimir Putin
At a joint press conference on the outcome of the Russian-Japanese talk with Minister of Japan Taro Aso, Tokyo, May 12, 2009
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