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
"I think we should work towards universal and total nuclear disarmament. We should all share this goal. Yet no one should abuse it, using these terms and this field of international philosophical thought for selfish ends."
"the national interests of Japan and Russia coincide on many issues, but more importantly, there will be more and more shared interests in the short, medium and especially in the long term perspective. Proceeding from these considerations we should do everything to eliminate any irritants in our bilateral ties. As soon as Japan and Russia feel that there are no such irritants, from that moment we will adopt a different terminology. I would like it to happen as soon as possible."
"A considerable part of Russia's territory is located in Asia but we are aware - and so is Japan - that the population density is very low there but the resources are enormous. And considering the development rates of Asia and the Pacific, Russia should by all means use its Asian advantages, its Asian roots, so to speak, in order to integrate itself in this economic space."
"Incidentally, 60% of the energy resources from the Sakhalin project are supplied to the Japanese market. When the oil pipe approaches the Pacific Ocean, Japan will have more opportunities to avail itself of this resource. However, we expect Japanese companies to show interest in expanding their investment in all the fields."
"There is also timber processing, machine building, which I have mentioned, space - we are taking part in the International Space Station programme - and telecommunications. We have already carried out the project on laying two optical fibre cables between Russia and Japan. We also have timber processing, as I have already said, chemistry and metallurgy. In fact, our Japanese partners and friends can take part in projects in any Russian region."
"This is all the more topical as President Dmitry Medvedev has recently announced the Russian proposal to conclude a new comprehensive energy treaty. We expect it to be an essential contribution to normalising European energy relations, and provide a sound legal basis for due consideration of the interests of all participants in the process - manufacturers, transit countries and companies, and main consumers."
"The energy industry remains among the top priorities of our partnership. We talked in great detail today about the Belene nuclear plant construction and, to my mind, we have arrived at a very interesting means of implementing this project, which is essential for our two countries and the entire region."
"Much has been done in the previous years in the sphere of training personnel for Iraq in diverse areas. We also discussed it today. Many thousands of Iraqi specialists had been trained in the Soviet Union and Russia. Today too Iraqi students study at our higher education institutions. Cooperation in that sphere can and undoubtedly will expand."
"Iraq has been our reliable partner for many years, and we have a good history of relations. The last decade has seen a great amount of mutual work between our two countries. We are keen on seeing Iraq flourish, becoming a strong, independent, sovereign and united country. There is much we can do to develop our bilateral economic ties. Our companies have sound experience of working with our Iraqi partners. This cooperation is a very good asset for the future."
"Regarding business and investment links, I think it is clear to everyone that the emphasis was above all on cooperation in the oil and gas field. Here, just as in the power sector, considerable positive experience of cooperation has been accumulated. We have noted the interest of our Iraqi partners in resuming military and military-technical cooperation. These negotiations are already at the stage of practical contacts and I believe that full-scale negotiations may well be resumed."
"In general, high-tech industries such as space exploration, aircraft building, telecommunications and other industries have acquired great importance in our relations. The most successful and famous example is the creation of the Superjet 100 airliner. We expect that the aircraft will be certified later this year."
"In 2008, our bilateral trade turnover reached $53 billion, which is 50% more than in 2007. Italy ranks fourth among our trade partners. I am very pleased to note that despite the difficult global economic situation, Russian and Italian business leaders are confident and optimistic about our future, and they do not plan to abandon investment projects."
“We believe that the use of force in the world arena has recently been overdone. Instead of conducting unpleasant and prolonged negotiations all too often problems are solved by crude force, and that is counterproductive. I don't think that is the way to act in the international arena, be it with regard to Iran or any other participant in international life, international communication.”
"We are satisfied with how our interstate relations are developing. I am referring to both the regularity of high-level contacts and the trend of the development of trade and economic relations. However, I would like to stress that I am speaking about trends only: In absolute terms, the volume of our trade turnover is rather small. We should also consider the issue of diversification. Russia mainly exports the production of the metalworking and chemical industries, while Chile mainly exports food products."
"The overall volume of our trade and economic relations is growing, yet it remains rather modest in absolute figures. There are attractive venues for potential cooperation, not only in the energy sector but also in tourism, high technologies (including space exploration and nuclear power generation), and investment."
“This year, up to 230 Mongolian students will study in Russian higher educational institutions. We have expanded the quota to this number. We will continue the practice of training specialists for the Mongolian Defence Ministry.”
"Our trade turnover has been growing over the past few years. The leaders of our cooperation, our joint companies, are working well. We have good, promising plans in different spheres, and our main objective now is to create the environment for their implementation. Another objective is to diversify our trade and economic relations."
“Incidentally, we have agreed to grant Mongolia a $300 million loan for agricultural development, which will be paid in tranches. As I said, Mongolia will spend it on agriculture, on this year's sowing season and livestock breeding. This is a tied loan so it will be spent on the purchase of Russian agricultural equipment and other Russian commodities.”
“As for the prospects of bilateral cooperation [Russian and Hungarian], I would like to say that they are not limited to energy or trade and economic relations. It is important to enhance our scientific, cultural and educational ties, and we intend to highlight these fields.”
“Hungarian export to Russia has increased nine-fold-really!-within the six years of Mr Gyurcsany's premiership. Russia has become Hungary's second-largest trading and economic partner after Germany as the result of our latest efforts.”
“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.”
“What we have heard in the preceding weeks and even months gives grounds for cautious optimism. We have heard signals concerning anti-missile defence, and we know that people close to Mr Obama say they should not hurry and the issue demands further analyses. We are glad to hear such statements. More that that, our proposal on developing those systems is still on the agenda. However, they demand team efforts.”
“Positive signals on NATO enlargement have also reached us. We have paid attention to people close to the new US President saying that there are many ways to guarantee Ukrainian and Georgian security, not necessarily through NATO. We are glad to hear it and are willing to join any discussion on the best possible options for international security.”
“Despite all the problems you have mentioned, we came to agreements with the United States on the Iranian and counter-terrorist themes, and our partnership was very fruitful and cooperative in some of those fields. We would not like to see them forgotten or ousted into the margins.”
“What cannot be settled through any negotiations are encroachments on our sovereignty. That is not up for discussion with other countries. What we want is an honest dialogue between countries based on international laws and principles with due account for American and Russian interests.”
"Our [Russia and Argentina] economic relations are making steady headway. In the last four years, our trade has increased five times over to reach $1.5 billion. We are developing traditional directions of cooperation, and creating new opportunities."
"Argentina generates 20% of its electricity with Russian equipment. We could cooperate in nuclear power generation, space, and other high-tech spheres."
“We hear that the relations with Russia should be built with respect for our interests. If these are not just words, and if they are translated into practical policies, then of course we will react in kind and our American partners will immediately feel it.”
“You know that we have signed mutual assistance treaties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is the best guarantee of the fact that Russia does not plan to leave this region. Given the desire of these states' citizens, we will be ready to provide any aid even at this difficult time of the global financial crisis.”
"Russia-German gas cooperation, it is developing very well indeed. Today we have reached the level about which we merely talked a few years ago. It was decided at the complicated talks, that our German partners would cooperate with us in producing gas on Russian territory. We are partners in the project you have mentioned, Nordstream, on transporting gas to Europe. Gazprom has become a co-owner of the German transportation network. It goes without saying that this makes our partnership well-balanced all the way."
"E.ON AG owns a big package of shares in Gazprom, and has been represented in its board of directors in the last few years. We have been jointly producing gas and transporting it to other European countries. Needless to say, this strengthens stability and reliability, and I would even say, mutual control of the situation in our economies, and in part, in this sector."
