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
“Russia and Ukraine are already cooperating and interacting productively in the nuclear energy sector. There are many companies in each of our countries that are closely linked to one another. We want to broaden this cooperation: building new units at the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant and securing Ukrainian partners for work on a large-scale development programme for the Russian nuclear power industry. In addition, we are ready to enter other countries' markets together. Undoubtedly, and I want to point this out, Russia has recently formed a solid set of foreign orders for the construction of energy facilities. Our banks have considerable resources to finance such projects, and we would like Ukrainian companies to participate in their implementation.”
“As for the nuclear power industry, Ukraine is a distinguished country in Europe: it comes second or third in Europe after France and, if I am not mistake, Belgium. Half of the electricity produced in Ukraine is from nuclear power plants. It is important that these plants, these blocks and units be modernised. You could modernise them more effectively, if you cooperate with Russian companies. We are interested in more than just cooperation, we are also willing to take an active part, along with our Ukrainian partners, in the modernisation of Ukraine's generating units and to allow our Ukrainian partners to take advantage of the Russian market. We have plans to double nuclear energy production capacity in Russia in the next 10 to 15 years.”
“We have always had special relations with the Kyrgyz people, and it goes without saying that we now must support our friends in Kyrgyzstan during this difficult time for them. In this context, I'd like to ask you to prepare relevant projects and government resolutions so that we can implement all of your proposals by the end of this week. I'd like you to remain in contact with the interim Kyrgyz government and promptly make decisions with your Kyrgyz colleagues to meet their needs. Let us assume that the situation will return to normal, while bearing in mind that it is very difficult and that, if necessary, we can provide further support.”
“For the first time, we have established an important, supranational body, which has already been granted many of the responsibilities of a country. It is important not to lose this momentum and establish a common customs area by July 1 and a common economic area by January 1, 2012, as we agreed.”
"We had complicated and lengthy but constructive talks with our Belarusian partners about crude oil supplies to the republic. We have reached a mutually acceptable decision. Russian oil will be supplied to Belarus duty-free to fully meet its domestic demand. However, duties will be levied for all additional supplies, processed and exported to third countries."
“The Customs Union is becoming the driver of the Eurasian Economic Community. We expect the rest of our EurAsEC partners to join this policy in the future. The launch of the Customs Union is a major step on the path to a common economic space with unrestricted goods, services, capital and workforce flow. It is a distinctly higher level of integration. A total of 170 million people represent a big consumer market which will open new vistas for businesses and producers from our countries and increase investment attractiveness.”
“The main objective is to create common mechanisms that will eliminate internal barriers on our customs territory and which will make it possible to control the Customs Union's external perimeter. We must prevent the creation of grey zones in the customs regulation. At the same time, we must not create additional obstacles for economic distribution.”
“Moreover, we have signed an agreement on the Customs Union's Customs Code. The agreement must be prepared for ratification as soon as possible. In the short-term, we must prioritise the creation of a common customs territory by July 1, 2010.”
“In the past six months, representatives of our departments and the ministries of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus have put a lot of energy into highly successful attempts to draft the Customs Union's legal framework. We have accomplished practical results, drafting a package of key documents and decisions needed to launch the Customs Union. First, this implies the approval of a common customs tariff and the introduction of a common system of non-tariff regulation starting January 1, 2010 and the granting of authority to the Customs Union Commission”.
"On the whole the Belarusian leadership and the President of Belarus are in favour of integration, of closer relations with Russia and we set great store by that. We have recently observed a spectacular manifestation of these sentiments and this policy when Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed documents to create a Customs Union. It is an important move towards integration, perhaps one of the most important in the post-Soviet times because it is a truly a path towards real integration."
"Highly complicated processes in terms of administrative, financial and law enforcement issues. This Union faces many challenges. I think all of you clearly understand that if we eventually manage to bring this work to its logical end, this will be the first real instance of integration in the post-Soviet space. For its part, the Russian Federation is prepared to go its part of the road and fulfil all of its commitments."
"It is necessary to thoroughly review how efficiently Union funds allocated for joint programmes are being spent. High-tech projects remain one of our highest priorities. It is vital that we continue joint efforts to ensure a decent living and social safety net for our citizens and develop our human capital. This is why we have prepared and approved the Concept for the Union State Social Development."
"This plan has already had a positive impact on the Russian and Belarusian economies, and has encouraged trade between our two countries. There are also a lot of other means to encourage trade further. We must try our best to use the advantages that come from our two countries' integration to recover from the crisis. The official establishment of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on January 1, 2010 will also contribute to fulfilling this goal. We expect that it will allow us to take cooperation between Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to a new level."
"I would also like to highlight a decision that we made and that you are aware of. The Russian Government equalised Belarusian and Russian suppliers in state purchases. If a commodity offered by your producer is 15% more expensive than a similar product manufactured by an international company, the purchase decision will be in favor of the Belarusian business, as it would be with a Russian company."
"There is progress in Russian-Belarusian interaction on the main areas of cooperation, critical for commodity producers. Belarus continues to purchase energy at the lowest prices among the CIS countries and in the world in general, which is no exaggeration. This includes gas, which Belarus also receives at the lowest prices."
"Now regarding the loans you asked about. <...> We have three possible areas of cooperation here. First, as you have already mentioned, there is the construction of two power units at Khmelnitsky NPP. The approximate cost would be $4 billion. <...> Regarding the gas flow into UGS, this is a very difficult issue, since the volumes are very large, 19-20 billion cubic metres of gas, which could flow there, at a value of $5 billion. This is the second issue. And it requires additional research, investigation, and consultation. <...> And the third question is budget support. Those are the three possible areas."
"A protocol has also been signed on commodity supplies along the production cooperation lines this year. It will spectacularly promote contacts between Russian and Ukrainian industrial companies."
"That is why it is so important that we signed today an intergovernmental agreement on the mutual establishment of offices of the Russian trade representation in Ukraine and relevant offices of the trade and economic mission within the Ukrainian Embassy in the Russian Federation. The agreement envisages spectacular expansion of economic cooperation so as to implement the potential of Russian and Ukrainian regions as fully as possible."
"The establishment of the Customs Union will enable us to stimulate mutual trade, joint investment projects and industrial cooperation, and in this way enhance our anti-crisis efforts, create jobs, and open new markets."
"I am referring to the establishment of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. We have recently made substantial progress in developing the legal basis of the Union. Altogether the package comprises 37 documents. We hope that other EurAsEC member states will eventually join the Union. We are open to cooperation and would welcome the growth of the three-party Union into a larger organisation. I am convinced that accelerated integration would effectively boost anti-crisis management and development. This is why we have agreed with our colleagues in Belarus and Kazakhstan to redouble our efforts."
"As for the former Soviet republics, we are offering them loans. You have mentioned Belarus. Russia has special contacts with this country. We are trying to set up the union state. Russia has lent Belarus more than $3 billion on intergovernmental credits since 2004. We are thinking about another loan of $500 million to Belarus. The credit burden on Belarus has reached critical levels."
"As to foreign economic cooperation, we have nearly completed the drafting of the legal foundations for a Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. I believe the Customs Union will be able to start working in 2010, one year ahead of schedule."
“Last year the trade turnover between our countries reached a record level of $34 billion. In the future, too, we need to make the most effective use of the advantages of our integration to create new jobs and expand markets for our industrial products.”
“We agreed to accelerate transferring $1 billion, the second tranche of the loan Russia is giving Belarus.”
"I am convinced that in order to minimise the negative impact of the world crisis on our economies we need effective joint actions. We should make full use of the benefits of integration, encourage mutual trade and strengthen cooperation in production."
“We have confirmed mutual intention to continue our efforts to establish a common economic space and a real customs union. I would like to note that three countries - Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan - are now involved in this activity.”
“We adopted the forecast balances of supply and demand for the key products of the Union State and the balances of fuel and energy resources for 2009. I hope you understand how important this issue is under the present circumstances to ensure the stable performance of industrial enterprises.”
“We will devote considerable attention to creating a full-fledged Customs Union in Eurasia and facilitating integration processes between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. In 2009, the Government plans to expedite the creation of modern market institutions. Notably, it will implement measures stipulated by the Competition-Incentives Programme and the Financial Markets Development Strategy.”
“The tightening of the global economy is certainly another important issue affecting each of our countries. Each EurAsEC country is currently working on its own plan to deal with the financial crisis. And it is especially important that we coordinate our efforts and are ready to deal with the consequences of the crisis cooperatively.”
“Russia will fully abide by its international financial commitments and take part in anti-crisis measures together with other countries. If necessary we will support our partners on a bilateral basis. I have already said publicly that we have transferred $1 billion to the International Monetary Fund which redistributes the money, with our participation, among the countries that are the hardest hit by the crisis. I repeat, if necessary, we will support our partners on a bilateral basis, not stopping short of credit lending.”
“I'd like to emphasize the importance of speeding up the formation of the Customs Union of the Troika: Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The sides have signed a cohesive package of agreements for developing regulating standards, including rules for applying common customs tariffs.”
“We believe that cooperation within EurAsEC is an effective strategy with the potential to ensure economic stability and further growth in the region. We therefore support the expedition of the integration processes, above all the organisation and launch of the EurAsEC Customs Union. It is vital to stimulate mutual trade, joint investment projects, production cooperation and thus preserve jobs and open new markets for our businessmen.”
"I note with satisfaction that our trade has been growing: last year it reached $1.2 billion and this year will approach two billion, or about $1.7 billion. Russian direct investments in the Kyrgyz economy have also been growing."
“The Kazakh and the Russian economies have some endemic issues. I'm referring to a big share of the mining industry, and the role of oil and gas in both economies. We have discussed this. I believe that we should not simply help each other as we have been doing and are going to do in the future, but that we should coordinate more proactive plans.”
"We consider the expansion of big Russian companies like Gazprom, INTER RAO UES, Russian Railways, and some banks, the VTB Bank, for instance, in Armenia to be quite useful."
"I would like to note with satisfaction that bilateral relations are developing rather successfully in virtually every area, including the energy sector. We are implementing ambitious projects and maintain large-scale cooperation."
“The whole point of our agreements with our Ukrainian partners is that we pass on to market pricing. The price of gas is linked to world oil prices, and if the oil price goes up, the gas price goes up to, if oil goes down, the gas price goes down and we will then lose some of our earnings. But that is fair, we do not control these prices.”
“The Russian-Kazakh border demands the closest attention of all. <…>As for the Kazakh border and our partnership with Kazakhstan, it certainly demands much time, effort and money. Let us not forget about drug trafficking on our south borders. Our federal agencies should closer cooperate with their Kazakh counterparts. Much has been done already for the necessary political and legal basis. With consideration for the drug threat, I think the State Anti-Drug Committee should be extremely active in this work.”
“We must think about stability and security of the new institutions even now, and concentrate on increasing the effectiveness of transnational travel checks of individuals, cargos and transport. There is also an information system to be arranged for smooth cooperation of border guards and customs services. What we need is a unified information system.”
“The formation of the Russian-Belarusian-Kazakh Customs Union has gained pace, largely on our partners' initiative, which I find correct and well-timed. The Customs Union will begin its work quite soon.”
"Moldova will chair the Commonwealth in 2009. This is a trying time for the world economy and finances. The CIS countries should protect their interests and pool their efforts to overcome the global economic and financial crisis. The Russian leadership is willing to offer the greatest possible assistance to its Moldovan partners in solving those problems."
"Our Moldovan partners have proposed Chisinau as the venue for the 4th forum of the CIS scientific and cultural intelligentsia. We greet this initiative and shall offer it every support."
"I should add that Russia endorses developing CIS integration, including cultural ties. In 2006, we fostered the founding of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation. Today we will decide on making a voluntary donation to the fund. These funds will be spent on joint research, cultural and educational projects."
