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
“As for Russian relations with Hungary, they are not limited to hydrocarbons in the energy shpere. They also include nuclear energy. As you know, our Hungarian friends asked us some time ago to troubleshoot for a Hungarian nuclear plant and our experts fully cooperated. A contract has been made for nuclear fuel and materials through 2032 or 2035. These supplies are smooth. Now, if possible, our companies might take part in a tender to build new units. We are supplying power station coal to Europe, Hungary being no exception. We obviously depend on our consumers just as they depend on us. If we take each other's interests into due account, this interdependence becomes not only a stability factor but also one of the key parts and means of overcoming the present-day global economic crisis.”
“The draft law on the ratification of the Russian-Lithuanian agreement on navigation in the Curonian Bay and the Neman River. It envisages the freedom of Russian vessels to navigate in Lithuanian inland waters and, reciprocally, Lithuanian vessels' freedom in the Kaliningrad Region waterways-a decision that fully complies with Russian national economic interests.”
“Our strategic goal is to raise domestic social standards to the best European and global levels. Therefore, we in Russia are attentively studying practical proposals on social development. We are actively using the experience of European experts in law making.”
“Although the structure of trade requires improvement, its present content corresponds to the interests of our countries (Russia and Yemen). We supply you with grain and machine equipment, while you are exporting agricultural products, seafood, and everything that is in demand in the Russian market to us.”
"Our bilateral trade is developing well. Last year, we reached another high level of $32 billion. Russia has become Turkey's first trading partner."
"We are closely following EP debates on Russia's problems, on all aspects of our cooperation, both in the economy and in culture. Our views do not always coincide, but I'm absolutely convinced that we should expand our contacts to understand each other better."
“We also need to consider proposals to ratify intergovernmental agreements with Jordan and Qatar on encouragement and mutual protection of investment. This will create a friendlier environment for Russian businesses in those lucrative markets.”
“Russia is ready to discuss any issues and problems, including the whole range of issues connected with law and freedom. We hope that these problems will be discussed together. We are still not satisfied with the way the problems of the Russian-speaking minority in the Baltic states are being addressed. We are aware of the rights of migrants in European countries and how they are violated. We know the situation in some penitentiary systems in some European countries, and have similar problems. We think it is necessary to discuss the whole range of problems both in Russia and in the European Union countries to find common ways of solving them.”
"Russia is the EU's third-largest trading partner after the United States and China. We are the EU's fourth-largest supplier. During the past year, Russia imported more than 100 billion euros worth of goods from the EU. This is a significant amount in international economic relations, which is why our consultations are obviously important."
“I hope very much that various agreements reached during your visit will be implemented in the near future. I am speaking of credit and financial agreements and those in the sphere of industrial production. This includes hydrocarbons, telecommunications, GLONASS, shipbuilding and engineering. We are very happy to have reached all these agreements.”
“Russia's share in trade with Mongolia has grown considerably, reaching 61%. We have good prospects, and by that, I mean agriculture, ore mining, railway development, and nuclear power engineering.”
“It is with great attention and alarm that we are following current developments. Naturally, we have reacted optimistically to the decision of Israel and HAMAS to conclude a cease-fire agreement. We understand the entire complexity and tenseness of the current situation. We hope very much that conditions for positive development will be created.”
“We are content with the course of relations that have taken place between Russia and Armenia. Russia is Armenia's first trade and economic partner in both numbers and in the quality of our cooperation. We hope to continue this positive development. Our partnership is based on confidence. This applies to all spheres of our cooperation, in energy and in other branches of the economy. Our political dialogue is also based on trust.”
“We are glad that our relations are developing consistently, and that we maintain regular contact at all levels - both at the top and in business. Our trade and economic ties are growing. I think that in the current difficult conditions of the world crisis, cooperation between Turkey and Russia is important for overcoming the problems that we now encounter.”
“We are simply stating our opinion. We believe that too much emphasis on resolving problems by force and the neglect of international law are counterproductive and destroy international relations. Near as we can tell from the signals coming from Washington, the current administration shares this approach to a certain extent. We know Obama's position on Iraq, and his intention to withdraw troops from there. We have heard that there is no special need to admit Georgia or Ukraine into NATO. There are different ways of ensuring their security although, frankly speaking, nobody threatens them. We have heard that there is a need to talk about the deployment of a missile defence system in Europe.”
“The main limitation is, of course, in our minds. And, to my deep regret, I must admit it also exists in certain parts of Russian society, too, as well as in Europe and America. We really need to get rid of that. First of all, we would like to have the image of an equal and reliable partner.”
“There are a lot of important issues on the global agenda in which most countries have shared interests. These include the anti-crisis policies we are discussing, joint efforts to reform international financial institutions, to improve regulatory mechanisms, ensure energy security-which demands teamwork by all of us- and mitigate the global food crisis, which is an extremely pressing issue today. Russia is willing to contribute to dealing with international priority issues. We expect all our partners in Europe, Asia, and America, including the new U.S. administration, to show interest in further constructive cooperation in dealing with all these issues and more. We wish the new team success.”
“My conviction is that reasonable restraint in military spending, especially coupled with efforts to enhance global security, will certainly produce significant economic dividends.”
“The world has lately come to face an unheard-of surge in violence and other aggressive actions, such as the present Georgian leadership's adventurous outing in the Caucasus, recent terrorist attacks in India, and escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip. Although not apparently linked directly, these developments still have common features. First of all, I am referring to the existing international organisations' inability to provide any constructive solutions to regional conflicts, or any effective proposals for interethnic and interstate settlement. Multilateral political mechanisms have proved as ineffective as the global financial and economic regulators.”
“What happened in the Caucasus was connected with known events and Georgian troops attacking peacekeepers. It was rooted in a desire to suppress the small Ossetian nation by force. Russia remained true to international agreements and its duty to its own peacekeepers and Caucasian peoples. That came as another proof of Russia's determination to stand up for its national interests, sovereignty and right to uphold international laws-laws, I stress, that were not written by Russia alone but by the international community. We will do so in the future. We would like to see these rules complied with everywhere-in Europe, for example in Kosovo, and the South Caucasus, for example in the small republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We would all act according to common rules instead of inventing beneficial options for ourselves time and again, which would open the road to chaos.”
