Point of View

"Despite the reduction in trade, Austrian investment in the Russian economy has remained steady. By the beginning of this year, it amounted to almost four billion dollars. We welcome the efforts of Austrian businessmen to continue to expand their presence in the Russian market."

"The decision of General Motors not to go ahead with the deal and not to sell Opel to the Magna-Sberbank consortium does not damage our interests. That is clear. That said, we were ready to support the deal. We supported Sberbank's decision to take part in the Sberbank-Magna consortium created in order to buy Opel. We gave them political support as well. In fact, several days ago, during a conversation with the German Chancellor, I reaffirmed the Russian Government's decision to provide 250 million euros in state guarantees to ease the load on the German Government and the German financial institutions. On the understanding, of course - and this was in our interests - that the plan to rescue Opel would be an investment in the Russian automobile industry, and that the plan would involve the transfer of technology. The members of the consortium worked hard with government agencies, GM, and with trade unions. The plan had been fully agreed upon. The last-minute decision to pull out of the deal does not harm our interests, but it does say something about the somewhat peculiar culture of our American partners when dealing with their partners. That is obvious."

"As for our own plans, they will not be changed. We will work with everyone, including American manufacturers. GM has a presence in the Russian Federation. We will support its activities in Russia, just as we will maintain contacts with the European manufacturers, such as our German and French partners, as well as with all those who have come to our market. For example, the Japanese producers. We have our own ambitious plans with which we will go ahead regardless, if not within this arrangement, then under some other arrangement. These plans are still alive and well, and they will continue and be completed. There is no doubt about it."

"Relations between our countries, including our political ties, regulatory agreements and economic cooperation, have been developing very well recently. Bilateral trade grew considerably last year, by over 40%. Unfortunately, it has fallen by more than 40% in the first months of the year, but there is a clear tendency for revival. The overall decline is currently less than 20%."

"We are grateful to the Danish Government for giving permission for the construction of the Nord Stream gas transmission system through Danish territorial waters and part of the Danish exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea. We greatly appreciate this prompt and sound decision on the part of our colleagues. It is an example of a measured, politically unbiased approach towards energy issues and energy cooperation in Europe."

"Relations between Cyprus and the Russian Federation are based on long-standing traditions and continue to develop successfully. The legal base for cooperation between our countries is being strengthened. Quite recently, on October 8, the Government of the Russian Federation approved a protocol for an intergovernmental agreement that would protect capital investment. I think that the ratification of this agreement by both countries will make our economic cooperation even more transparent.."

"The only thing we consider unacceptable is the use of diplomatic services outside the Vienna Convention. I think that is indisputable. We very much hope to see a uniform interpretation of these issues on the part of our partners."

"The partnership between Russia and Finland are a model for genuine, good neighbourly relations. This is also true of our political, business and cultural ties, especially since in 2008 Russia has again emerged as Finland's biggest foreign trading partner. The trust we have built up enables us to discuss the most complicated issues frankly and reach the best solutions for both our countries' benefit."

"It is important that in spite of the global economic crisis, the implementation of key Russian-Finnish projects is proceeding at a good pace. Although there has been some decline in the volume of trade, I am confident that in the future we will be able to turn this situation around. In this connection I would like to remind you that last year Russia emerged as the biggest trading partner of the Finnish Republic. We are committed to building up our business ties, improving their quality and stability, and developing both the traditional and new areas of economic partnership."

"Finland's authority as a major player in the world timber market is unassailable. And very importantly, it applies not only to the quantity, but also to the quality of its products. I am referring to Finland's modern technologies, the advanced processing of raw materials, and advanced environmental programmes. All these areas are extremely important for us. The experience of our Finnish partners and their advanced know-how will certainly be used in Russia. I think it is in our mutual interests to shift the focus towards joint development of the markets in third-party countries, and to concentrate our resources on creating and promoting high-tech nanotechnology and biotechnology products in the timber industry. Ultimately, the future belongs to these technologies."

"During the talks we held behind closed doors, the Finnish Prime Minister appealed to us to review the issue of duty-free birch deliveries for the Finnish timber processing industry. I believe we could expand the parameters and hence the volume of such deliveries to our partners abroad. The issue concerns the so-called birch supply balance, which is birch timber with a diameter of up to 15 cm. "

"On the whole - and I would like to draw your attention to this - there is more and more support in Europe for the diversification of energy routes. Just recently, as you know, the Danish Government has granted permission to lay the pipeline through its economic zone, for which we would like to thank that country's leadership."

"Germany is Russia’s leading trade and economic partner. Last year, Russia-Germany trade exceeded $60 billion. This year it will be considerably smaller because of the crisis. However, I was pleased and even surprised to learn that in January through April German investment in the Russian economy grew 36%. It is proof that our relations have been growing despite problems in the global economy and our countries' economies. Moreover, import and export between Russia and Germany is balanced, and our relations are sufficiently diversified."

"As for export duties on unprocessed lumber, we take our producers' and their foreign partners' problems into account. So we have postponed the planned increase in export duties to a prohibitive 50 euros per 1 cubic metre. We will announce our final decision quite soon. As for next year, we will proceed from the current situation."

"We have several issues to discuss with you. Brunei is one of the largest producers of liquefied natural gas, and Russia is also beginning to develop this commodity. We are also aware of your efforts to diversify the country's economy by developing high-tech industry and farming."

"As for bilateral talks with our Chinese partners and our work within the SCO, we primarily focus on economic interaction. Unless you consider our agreements with China to notify each other of ballistic missile launches, which I believe a signal event. It is an extremely important achievement that will strengthen trust between countries in a highly sensitive sphere of strategic weapons. It is an additional element of full-scale strategic relations, comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and China. And a crucial element at that."

"I'd like to remind you about something we consider an important result in our discussions, and that is the agreement reached with our Chinese partners regarding Rostom's involvement in the second stage of the construction at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. I think this is one of the most important agreements reached during this visit."

"We have started implementing the agreements reached earlier on crude oil extraction. We will extract it on our territory and transport it. Remember, how few people believed that we could build the pipeline system under the difficulties faced in Siberia: without any transport, communications or energy infrastructure. In a very short period of time, we have built over 2,000 kilometres of pipeline. And it's more than just a big pipe, you don't just dig a trench and put it in the ground, it's a highly complex, state of the art system, and then in addition there's the accompanying infrastructure. We did it. And it was, of course, an absolute success."

"I am very glad that you and I are meeting individually within the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation forum. The relationship between the Russian Federation and Pakistan has been developing very well as of late. This concerns both our political contacts and our economic interaction. Nevertheless, as far as economic interaction is concerned, trade between our two countries is so far very insignificant. But we are putting into place mechanisms for cooperation. One of these is the intergovernmental commission, which we need to launch as soon as possible."

"Even during a crisis, Russia and China have demonstrated their capacity for closer economic partnership and ambitious projects. This is grounds for optimism. Most of all I mean our energy partnership. We have come to a consensus on the construction of an oil pipeline from Skovorodino to the Chinese border, and have signed a major credit agreement. The pipeline, which has required ambitious investments, will be ready quite soon."

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