"Rossiyskaya Gazeta": "The government wants visa-free travel to Europe"
Yesterday Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico promised his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to think about the introduction of visa-free travel for Russian citizens. In turn, Putin told him about the forthcoming visit of President Dmitry Medvedev.
Slovakia is a small republic but it is playing an important role in Russia's foreign trade and foreign policy. It is a transit country through which more than 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas are transported. This fact did not prevent Slovakia, unlike Ukraine, from introducing changes into its national law on energy by removing the barriers to Gazprom's participation interest in Slovak gas distribution networks.
In line with its strategy on energy security up to 2030, Bratislava has proposed to Moscow to jointly build new subsurface gas reservoirs, increase the transfer capacity of the operating pipelines and modernise elements of its gas system. Yesterday the sides discussed the formation of a joint venture between Gazprom and Slovak companies for gas distribution in Slovakia. "Slovakia is one of the most important and reliable links in the system of transit of Russian energy to Europe," Putin said.
Incidentally, in the gas conflict, which hit Slovakia harder than other European states (because it wholly depends on Russian gas), Fico sided with Moscow. "The Slovak Republic and the Slovak government consider Russia a reliable supplier of gas to our country," he said.
A participant in the talks told RG that in particular, the sides discussed a possibility of filling Slovak reservoirs with gas in advance, before the probable crisis in late December and early January. Putin told Fico that Ukraine has no money to pay for gas.
The two prime ministers also spoke about extension of the Druzhba oil pipeline from Bratislava to the Schwechat Oil Refinery near Vienna.
"We are going to develop cooperation in high-tech and strictly scientific spheres, including the international laser and cyclotron centres, which are being built in Bratislava. For our part, we will do everything we can to successfully complete this project."
Russia is also planning to help Slovakia build a section of railway tracks from Kocise to Bratislava with an outlet to Vienna. "This project is moving forward at a good pace," Putin said.
As usual, Putin started with trade: "We have an opportunity not only to restore last year's trade turnover of $10 billion but also surpass it." Russia is Slovakia's third largest trading partner after Germany and the Czech Republic. In the last five years trade turnover more than trebled, reaching a record $9.6 billion in 2008.
Fico supported the good spirit of the conversation. He said that bilateral relations "are not burdened with any outstanding problems.Moreover, we have received good news - next spring President Dmitry Medvedev will visit our republic," he said. Putin specified that Medvedev will come in April. Fico nodded to thank him for this information and said that in 2010 Slovakia will celebrate "a memorable date - its liberation by the Red Army." Putin said that people will always remember the unparalleled courage and heroism of Soviet soldiers. "It is our common duty to cherish the memory of this historic event and the victims of the war, of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Europe from the Nazis," Putin said. "We appreciate that Slovak people display respect for the tombs of Soviet soldiers and monuments in their honour," he added.
Both prime ministers emphasised that their countries are now building pragmatic relations regardless of history. Fico promised to consider a visa waiver with Russia, having made a reservation that Slovakia is party to the Schengen Agreement. However, he said that it is possible to overcome this difficulty. "The Slovak Republic has a rational approach to this. This is for sure," he said.
