Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has left for France where he will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and hold talks with his counterpart Francois Fillon. They will discuss prospects for political development in Russia, and Putin will unveil the monument to the Russian Expeditionary Force.
The memorial to 45,000 Russian officers and soldiers is located in the very centre of Paris on the banks of the Seine, very close to Pont Alexandre III. Putin and Fillon endorsed the idea in November 2009 to immortalise a somewhat forgotten heroic page in the history of two countries' bilateral relations. The idea has won the hearts of descendants of Russian émigrés in France. The bronze monument by the famous sculptor Vladimir Surovtsev had the working name, "A spring." It depicts a soldier leading his horse to drink water from a spring, symbolizing loyalty to allied duty and readiness to fight. Surovtsev said he didn't want to erect a Russian soldier with a gun or a grenade or ready to attack in the centre of Paris .
Apart from his meeting with Sarkozy, Putin will hold talks with Fillon. Now that they have signed the deal on the sale of Mistral helicopter carriers, after long negotiations at the top level, it is time to open a new stage in Russian-French dialogue. Moreover, French leaders are bound to be interested in the prospects of the political process in Russia and the age-old question of the ruling party's potential nominee at the presidential elections. Official French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero told Izvestia about their priorities: "Vladimir Putin's visit does not only promote economic ties, it also deepens political dialogue. The conclusion of the Mistral agreement is already a landmark but we are willing to further enhance our strategic dialogue. This will become a solid foundation for promoting economic exchange in all areas, primarily technological ones. We will discuss issues that are complicated and sensitive both for Paris and Moscow, such as Libya and Syria, and our cooperation with the G-20 and G-8. Within these formats, we have very close and fruitful interaction."
After the talks and an official lunch at the prime minister's residence in Matignon, Putin will attend the 49th International Air Show at Le Bourget. Russia is taking an active part in it this year – its stands occupy a total area of 1,700 square metres. Apart from the already commissioned Sukhoi Superjet-100, which they can expect new contracts for, Russia will present the Beriyev Be-200 amphibious aircraft. This is the aircraft that Putin himself flew on last year to an area where forest fires were being combatted.
Oleg Shevtsov
