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
The French-Russian Dialogue Association was established on December 9, 2004 in Paris by a large group of Russian and French business people, politicians, scientists, and artists. President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac officially confirmed their consent to personally patronise the association's activities.
Under its charter, the association is called upon to facilitate expanded bilateral partnership, ties in the field of science, culture, and education, contacts in the sphere of business cooperation and investment, and support for major public projects.
The association was established by Russian and French business people, politicians, scientists, and artists, including Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Avdeyev, French Ambassador to Russia Jacques Cadais, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yury Osipov, Vnesheconombank Board Chairman Vladimir Dmitriyev, Gaz de France President Jean-François Cirelli, Gazexport Director General Alexander Medvedev, Air France-KLM President Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Director General Valery Okulov, Electricite de France SA President Pierre Gadonneix, Permanent Secretary of the French Academy Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, writer Maurice Druon, and others.
Ara Abramian, president of "Soglasie" (Concord)
Ltd., and former Renault President Louis Schweitzer were elected to serve as the association's co-chairpersons.
The association has initiated and been involved in a number of important Russian-French events, including exhibitions, conferences, and seminars on the Russian investment climate, ways of improving Russian legislation, opportunities for expanded high-tech cooperation, as well as cooperation in the sphere of construction and the housing/municipal utilities sector.
The association cooperates with compatriots and representatives of Russian emigrants living in France. In 2005, the association assisted in reinterring the remains of General Anton Denikin and philosopher Ivan Ilyin in Russia along with the remains of their wives.
On March 21, 2011, Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin was elected the association's Russian co-chairperson. Honourary Total Company President Thierry Desmarest co-chairs the association on behalf of France.
