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 you have seen and heard today, a gas pipeline to Tskhinval has been launched today. As I have already said, it was laid in a record short time along a complicated alpine terrain, and rids the republic of its dependence on gas supplies via Georgia. This was also Russian gas but it was supplied via Georgia. Now South Ossetia itself can become a transit country for Georgia.”
“There was no other way of ensuring this stability but to recognize the independence of both republics, because we realized that the current Georgian political leaders will not leave them in peace. It is necessary to establish the conditions for ensuring reliable security for the long term.”
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Russia is also supporting Georgia. I'm sure you know that Georgia is receiving no small amount of assistance through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We are an active member of the IMF, and regularly make serious contributions to this international organisation, which are then distributed among the distressed countries, Georgia included. This shows once again that we are not interested in humiliating Georgia, and we are not interested in having losers and winners here.”
"Much has been done since then for developing full-scale relations between Russia and South Ossetia and for consolidating their legal foundation. In September 2008, we signed a Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, and last April, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Protection of South Ossetia's State Frontier. The Russian border guards have assumed responsibility for securing peace and tranquility in the region."
“Russia has appropriated about three billion roubles - 2.8 billion roubles, to be exact - for supporting the republic's budget this year, and another 8.5 billion roubles for restoring the infrastructure facilities. Out of the 8.5 billion roubles, 3.5 billion roubles have been spent. Let's see what can be done in the remaining months of this year. We have agreed with the republic's President that if some funds are not spent, we will not rush to meet the deadline for spending them. The main task is to guarantee the quality of construction.”
“We will continue to pursue our social policy. Let's put it blankly, we will continue to pay retirement pensions, as we have done starting from 2003, based on my decision. More than 1 billion roubles have been allocated for these purposes this year. And next year payments will remain the same. No changes are expected.”
"We all know quite well that since 2003 Russia has been providing assistance to Russian citizens who live in Abkhazia, paying pensions and several other allowances. I understand perfectly well that this assistance is only a response to the heritage of the past. Our main goal is creating a self-sustained economic system in Abkhazia."
“Why could Abkhazia be interesting for Russia in terms of economy? The first point, which is obvious, is tourism. I have just visited Turkey and met with Prime Minister Erdogan, a good friend of mine, and with President Gul as well. We discussed different fields of co-operation. Two-and-a-half million Russian tourists visit Turkey every year. Turkey is a big country and there are a lot of modern hotels there. And one million Russian tourists visit Abkhazia. The figure is comparable with that of Turkey. One million! That's what we have under current circumstances, when far from everything has been restored, neither in Gagra, nor in other resorts. Imagine what will happen if we restore everything.”
“As for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, well, speaking of the Abkhazian budget, this year we allocated funds to the tune of 2.5 billion roubles to support the Abkhazian budget. And these are only the funds allocated to support the budget; there are funds allocated for other purposes as well. Next year the figure will be approximately the same, just a little bit smaller. But, next year we are going to allocate considerable funds for security purposes, specifically, for our military base in Abkhazia - about 15 billion roubles. This money will be used to reinforce the border and to create an up-to-date border - not the Maginot Line, but a border - to enable normal communication with both Georgia and Russia, to create modern infrastructure, to equip the border and to equip border troops, to upgrade the military base. All in all, it will take 15-16 billion roubles.”
“There are infrastructure projects regarding transport, border crossings with Russia, as there are weak points there. To be frank, we have not found any specific financing sources so far, but still motorway and bridge construction, railroad restoration between Sochi and Sukhumi, marine transportation between Sochi and Sukhumi - all this will require another 4 billion roubles. This is a rough estimate. I would like to repeat that we have not yet found sources to finance infrastructure projects, but the expenses have not been calculated yet. The calculations are being done now by the experts. And we will continue to do it.”
“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.”
