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
“Energy resource supplies aren't evenly distributed around the world. Therefore, it is extremely important to uphold global energy security. Russia was one of the countries to raise this issue for discussion during Russia's presidency in the G8.”
“However, certain countries' vocal concerns over energy security are nothing but political manoeuvring to cover efforts to gain preferential access to others' resources, while saving their own for some or other reasons, or because they simply do not have any. Therefore, while discussing energy security, we should have a very clear idea what each of the discussion participants means by the term. We believe that energy security includes the following aspects. For oil and gas producers, it primarily means the guarantee of sovereignty over their national energy resources, as well as a responsibility to ensure stable supplies to their consumers.”
“We admitted a number of European companies - Finnish, Italian and German - to our energy sector; they acquired the biggest blocks of shares with our power companies, invested literally billions of dollars and euros. We invite such investments. We admitted them to participate in the development of hydrocarbons - both oil and gas.”
“I have to do justice to our European partners. For their part, they ventured the construction of new routes for our energy resource supplies to Europe. An excellent example is the constructing of the North Stream gas pipeline and our plans for the South Stream, as well as some other projects. Europeans have also admitted us to their energy transport system, namely the trunk pipeline. These are very good examples of integration in a crucial economic sphere: energy.”
“We are very responsible in relations with all our partners. We are taking a direct part in international anti-crisis efforts, and supporting our allies on a bilateral basis. We have decided to transfer up to one billion dollars to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for helping the countries which are the hardest hit by the financial crisis. We are also going to credit China and India for the purchase of Russian equipment, thereby securing jobs and profits of our companies, domestic producers.”
“We will continue talks on WTO entry. However, I consider it just as important to use the advantages of integration in the post-Soviet space. Our partners support accelerating a customs union between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, and also a Common Economic Space. I completely agree with this approach. These projects should be carried out it the near future. I am convinced that the development of industrial cooperation and trade with our neighbours may become a tangible factor of economic stability in the entire Eurasian region.”
“We should aggressively use the tools for advancing and upholding our economic interests, in the positive sense of the word. We plan to encourage the domestic exporters of industrial produce, and transform the system of export support into a major institution of development.“
“We can consider buying the assets of high-tech foreign companies to develop mutually advantageous cooperation and transfer part of the production to Russia on valid economic terms.”
“As in previous years, we will protect our domestic market, for example, the agrarian sector, with customs tariffs. Needless to say, we will do this without harming the interests of Russian consumers or violating our international commitments. In addition, we have decided to give price preference to domestic suppliers when they are awarded government or municipal contracts. In my opinion, such protectionism is appropriate as a temporary measure.”
As we know, Nord Stream company spent a record-setting amount of over $100 million on environmental research. As we have agreed between us, all interested Finnish agencies will receive exhaustive information on the issue quite soon. The decision will be up to relevant Finnish organisations-government agencies and, I expect, public organisations-because we intend to keep in close contact with environmental organisations on a wide range of relevant issues.
"We support a consistent removal of the barriers to foreign trade. We support honest and transparent rules of play in the world economy and finance. Russia will consistently promote integration processes. The priority here, of course, will be the formation of the customs union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and the strengthening of EurAsEC."
"Active foreign trade policy is a key long-term factor of economic growth. It is an effective instrument for diversifying and stabilising the domestic economy and making it innovative. We should avail ourselves of the windows of opportunity that are opening up and protect ourselves against potential and current risks."
"A great deal has been done in recent years to strengthen Russia's position in the world market, to give our foreign trade a modern, civilised look. I am referring to the rapid development of foreign trade infrastructure, increased capacity of Russian seaports, the inauguration of new routes for transporting Russian hydrocarbons - the Baltic Pipeline System, the Blue Stream. A number of similar major projects are in progress, notably the pipeline towards the Pacific, the North European gas pipeline, and the Southern Stream which is being considered with an eye to the future."
"We use market methods to respond to emerging problems. The Government and the Bank of Russia have sufficient reserves to protect the Russian currency and the financial system. We have adopted a set of measures, as you know. These are both the Government and the Central Bank's measures, which provide extra liquidity to the market. The limit of budget funds deposited in banks has been raised from 625 billion roubles to 1.514 trillion roubles".
"There is certain tension on our stock exchange as well, but we believe that it is the result of domestic issues. Russia's economy has no systemic problems, with all key indicators being within norm, including the surplus of both the budget and trade balance. Our gold and foreign exchange reserves are growing, as are the opportunities in the country's social sector. I think nobody will dispute the fact that the major issues are rooted in the American and European financial markets. I am confident that the current problems can be overcome. Of course, we cannot ignore the events that are unfolding, with both Russian Government and the Central Bank of Russia taking necessary measures. As you know, Russian Financial Ministry has adopted a decision to place 1.5 trillion roubles worth of treasury funds on the market".
"For Russia the most reasonable way to address the situation is to keep theprices at a level where they would cover manufacturers' expenses and investment needs, but at the same time would not have a negative effect on the world and national economies".
"I am well aware that the predictability and stability of economic policy is vitally important for business, and I would like to emphasise that despite certain political events of some urgent and even critical nature, Russia will not change its economic development model. Our policy will remain unaltered, there will be no closed market or economic mobilisation. We will not take any politically motivated decisions or actions in the economy, and we are trying to make our plans as open and clear as possible".
"As for the inflow or outflow of capital, that is connected above all with the processes in the world economy. We know that the Western financial system is still suffering from a liquidity crisis. The Western financial system itself needs the money invested in other markets, including the Russian market. I am sure that this is what accounts for the outflow. But without doubt at the end of the year there will be an overall “plus”. A very big “plus”. According to the Central Bank, the results of the year will show influx of at least $30-40 billion."
"Naturally, one of the main areas of our cooperation is energy. This is understandable since, firstly, Russia is a country that contributes considerably to the world's energy system, and secondly, energy resources are in the highest demand today. Lately, we have been strengthening the legislative base for our cooperation, searching for new ways to diversify our relations, to find new areas for collaboration, such as transportation, aerospace, science-intensive production, and of course, military-technical cooperation. You know that Russia is a reliable partner in this respect. We hope to develop cooperation in all these areas, including humanitarian aspect".
"Let me stress that we are not against imports as such. In the WTO negotiating process and in the dialogue with our partners we always come out for equal and fair access to each other's markets".
"Unless we break into the market for goods and services with a high added value, Russia will see its role in the development of the world economy diminishing".
"I am convinced that Russia can and must become a major regional financial centre in the world. This is necessary if we are to expand the sources of finance for our private and public sectors".
