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
“We are going to work within existing treaties and agreements. The legal basis for our cooperation is strengthening; we have drafted about 40 agreements with Abkhazia on various spheres of our cooperation, and we are confident they are going to work efficiently towards the well-being of the people of Abkhazia and Russia.”
"But in our view, now people are coming to understand that everyone is interested in universal rules and standards stipulated by international law. Because not a single country in the world today is capable of - as resources are insufficient even if they would like to - acting as a world policeman, as a world empire, which imposes rules of behaviour on everyone. I think everyone has this understanding now. And therefore, I would like to see that this will, this opinion prevails on a political level, and not just on a level of private conversations. And in fact, now we see that this becomes the case more and more often."
"Abkhazia knows well Russia's position regarding this conflict and how relations developed in preceding decades. There is no point in pretending otherwise. You know how many times South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in some or other form, approached Russia with pleas either to let them join the Russian Federation or to recognise their independence... But Russia behaved in a very even-handed and very correct manner. Because we always proceeded from one of the fundamental principles of international law, that of the territorial integrity of states. But I think, in order to preserve this territorial integrity after the disintegration of the USSR, it was necessary to treat the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with respect."
“The established legislative framework allows us to develop our relations with Abkhazia and with South Ossetia as independent states, without paying any attention to anyone who doesn't like it. And those are the foundations on which relations can be built in economic development and the social sphere, developing interstate relations, and ensuring stability and security. We will act to those ends within the framework of existing agreements and treaties. And in the very near future, and already now, the legal foundations of our cooperation are being strengthened: We have prepared about 40 agreements with Abkhazia on various areas of co-operation. I am confident that this will work well in the benefit of the peoples of Abkhazia and Russia.”
“Agreements have been reached on the construction in Turkey of major underground gas storage facilities. We know that each winter Turkey's economy and Turkey's consumers experience gas supply problems. Establishing these reserves and these underground storage facilities will of course boost energy stability for the growing Turkish economy.”
“We will maintain further contacts with both parts of Cyprus, with both sides. We will develop economic relations with Cyprus, including its Turkish part. We have said it so many times before. We consider it the right stance and a step towards settlement.”
“Turkey supplies a considerable volume of agricultural products to our market, while Russia supplied an equally large volume of grain and cereals to the Turkish market last year for the first time. The outlook for next year's export is also bright; we are planning to gain a stronger position in the Turkish market, also helping our Turkish partners fill the niches both Turkey and Russia are interested in.”
“The fundamental document, the framework within which we are currently working, is a treaty on the supply of gas to the Turkish Republic from Russia dating to, I think, 1986. It is subject to renewal. And the Turkish side is interested in increasing the volume of Russian gas supplied. We agreed that we would do that.”
“We agreed that we will move to the feasibility studies and subsequently the construction of additional branches to the Blue Stream pipeline, Blue Stream-2, with subsequent export of these hydrocarbons to third countries via Turkey. The countries have already been mentioned, they are: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. Thus Turkey becomes a major transit state for this part of the world. If you take into account the fact that South Stream will pass through Turkey's special economic zone, then Turkey will become an important logistical centre in the energy sector for Europe as well.”
“As for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the victory of the Russian-Turkish consortium at the tender for the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant would open up broad vistas before our two countries. Obviously, both countries are interested in the project and intend to coordinate details and proceed with construction in the near future.”
