RUSSIAN-ITALIAN TALKS:Press statements and answers to journalists’ questions

Press statements and answers to journalists’ questions following Russian-Italian talks

May 17, 2017
14:40
Sochi



Press statements and answers to journalists’ questions following Russian-Italian talks. With Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen,

I want to start by noting our increasingly frequent meetings with our Italian partners and friends. Last month, we received President Sergio Mattarella in Moscow, and today, we had substantive and productive talks with Italian Prime Minister Mr Gentiloni.

Italy has traditionally been one of Russia’s major partners and our countries seek to build constructive relations based on equality and respect for each other’s interests.

We discussed the whole range of cooperation areas during the talks today, and outlined concrete plans for further development. We gave priority attention to promising areas for economic development.

See also
Meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni
May 17, 2017

Italy is one of Russia’s major trade partners. Our bilateral trade came to around $20 billion last year. Of course, as a result of the circumstances we know, this figure is considerably lower than the peak figure we had in 2013, but we do have grounds for hope because we saw bilateral trade growth of close to 30 percent at the start of this year.

It is very good to see that reciprocal investment remains at a high level. Italian investment in the Russian economy comes to more than $1 billion, and Russian investment in Italy comes to $2.4 billion.

I am sure that the implementation of the roadmap adopted last year on trade and investment cooperation will contribute to deepening business ties, as will the recent Italian government decision to select Russia as a target country for stepping up economic cooperation.

We invited Italian businesspeople to take part in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum that opens on June 1. I remind you that last year, we signed around 20 inter-corporate agreements for a total of $1.3 billion with Italy alone.

Of course, we discussed promising cooperation areas, including energy. Russia is Italy’s biggest natural gas supplier, covering 43 percent of its gas demand. We have agreed to continue developing our effective cooperation in this area.

We hope that Italian companies will take part in promising work to produce hydrocarbons and in projects to diversify Russian energy supplies to Europe. I am referring here to the construction of new mainline gas pipelines, in particular, along the southern route. In this respect, I note the cooperation agreement just signed between Rosneft and ENI.

We work together with good results in industry, science, and high-tech sectors.

I must mention too our productive cooperation in manned space flights. In two months’ time, an international team will fly to the International Space Station, with an Italian citizen among its members, Paolo Nespoli, as astronaut from the European Space Agency. This will be his second flight to the station.

Traditionally close ties in culture and tourism are one of the distinguishing features of our bilateral cooperation.

Italy is a very popular destination among Russian tourists. In 2016, 710,000 people from Russia visited Italy. We expect to see growing numbers of Italians visiting Russia too. Specialised tourism offices have opened in Rome and Milan, and this has already helped to boost the number of Italian tourists coming to Russia.

Our two countries’ museums are expanding their contacts. The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is currently holding an exhibition of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico, and in June, the State Hermitage in St Petersburg will hold a unique exhibition of historic artefacts from the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. In autumn, Days of Moscow will take place in Milan, Genoa, and Venice, and next year, the Russian Seasons will take place in Italy.

We discussed current issues on the international and regional agendas, of course, and looked at the crisis situations in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, and on the Korean Peninsula.

Russia and Italy support joint efforts by the international community to act against today’s greatest threat – international terrorism.

Overall, we agreed to continue deepening our foreign policy coordination. This is particularly relevant now, with Italy holding a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and set to preside in the OSCE in 2018.

We discussed Russia’s relations with the European Union. It is not at all possible to call them normal right now, and we must try to avoid excessive politicisation and restore a constructive spirit for cooperation.

I am sure that greater economic cooperation between Russia and European countries and direct ties between the Eurasian Economic Union and the EU would help to strengthen trust across the entire Eurasian region.

I want to conclude by thanking Mr Gentiloni and all of our Italian friends and colleagues for this substantive and useful exchange of views. I am sure that the agreements we reached today will contribute to further all-round development of our bilateral ties.

Thank you for your attention.

Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni (retranslated): I thank President Putin for the warm welcome in Sochi and our important talks, which will continue during our working lunch.

Bilateral relations are, of course, at the centre of our talks. We have always tried to maintain – even in the most difficult times, which may already be a thing of the past – the trust of Italian companies in the Russian market and the Russian business community. Our companies have always had trust in that country. I think it was the right choice, because the recent developments prove that following the difficult times – which were due to a variety of reasons – that the Italian and the Russian economies went through, today we can see positive signs of resumed trade exchanges between our countries.

Approximately 600 Italian companies are operating in Russia. The volume of trade remains an important issue, and, as the President mentioned, we saw new signs of it being restored in recent months. However, the data looks fairly positive against the background of Italy’s overall foreign trade. In terms of exports [to Russia], the Italian economy has reached a level unseen in the past seven years. Our companies prove that there is renewed interest in the Russian market (Astaldi, ENI, Tecnimont, and others). This is evidenced by the agreements that we signed today.

Prime Minister Renzi attended the St Petersburg International Economic Forum last year. This year, too, the forum remains an important event for our system. It will be attended by general directors of major Italian companies and an important Italian government delegation.

Keeping these economic relations in mind, I would like to mention another important and symbolic thing, which is our gratitude to Rosneft for giving the Marche region 5 million [euros] to rebuild a hospital after last year's earthquake.

We touched upon key international issues in our conversations as well. From my perspective, as the G7 chairman, I find it very important to understand President Putin’s viewpoint on these issues.

I think that there are opportunities for cooperation in fighting terrorism, and responding to regional crises. I'm talking about Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan, where Italy and Russia (and the international community in general) can and should cooperate. There are common threats, and I think that we should join efforts as we try to respond to them. Some threats are quite serious, such as, primarily, Libya. I think that we are doing well in this arena as well.

Finally, in recent years, Italy has been supporting an open dialogue between Russia and the European Union. Of course, this strategic partnership should not be suspended because of the crisis involving Ukraine. I think that all the paths for working within this partnership, including the partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union, should remain open. Therefore, I once again thank President Putin for the warm welcome in Sochi...

Meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni


Vladimir Putin held talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Key aspects of bilateral cooperation and current international affairs were the main subjects of discussion.
May 17, 2017
14:10
Sochi






With Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni.

A number of agreements on cooperation were signed following the talks.

Mr Putin and Mr Gentiloni witnessed the signing of:

An agreement between Rosneft and ENI on expanding cooperation in production, processing, marketing and trading;

An agreement between Rosneft and Tecnoclima on cooperation in supplies, modernisation, and servicing heating and ventilation systems for drilling installations;

A production cooperation agreement between Rosneft and Pietro Fiorentini;

An agreement between the Russian Direct Investment Fund, State Company Russian Highways, Italian state company ANAS S.p.A and ANAS International Enterprise S.p.A on investment and technology cooperation on public-private partnership projects in the road sector in Russia.

Other agreements signed following the talks include a cooperation agreement between Rosneft, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and the Polytechnic University of Turin, and an agreement between Rosneft, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, and the Polytechnic University of Turin.

Mr Putin and Mr Gentiloni made press statements and answered journalists’ questions.

* * *

Beginning of meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends,

Let me greet you again and welcome you to Russia this time. We met just recently in China. It is a great pleasure to see you again.

During your time as foreign minister, you visited Russia often as head of the intergovernmental commission. Regrettably, we have seen a drop in our trade, but the moment you became prime minister, our bilateral trade began to grow again and was up 28 percent over the first two months of this year.

See also
Press statements and answers to journalists’ questions following Russian-Italian talks
May 17, 2017

We have very intensive contacts at the political level. Italy holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. We are very pleased to have this chance to have a calm exchange of views on everything I mentioned during your working visit.

Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President,

I am very pleased to have this chance to meet with you and discuss matters concerning Russian-Italian relations, which I personally consider very successful, even excellent relations, and to discuss very sensitive matters pertaining to the international situation.

I am not sure that the achievement you spoke of can be credited to our council on bilateral economic and financial cooperation, but I do agree with you that we are seeing substantial growth in our economic relations.

Given that Italy currently holds the G7 presidency, this is also an opportunity for me to meet with Mr Putin to discuss current matters on the eve of the summit in Taormina, which will take place in 10 days’ time.

In short, we have plenty to discuss, whether bilateral cooperation or the international situation. Mr President, I thank you once again for this opportunity to meet.

<…>

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT latest news

On 25-26 May, Dmitry Medvedev will take part in the meetings of the CIS Council of Heads of Government and the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kazan

16 May 2017 13:40

On 26 May, Dmitry Medvedev will chair a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

The meeting agenda will feature the further development of the multi-faceted interaction within the CIS, including the signing of international agreements in such areas as the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; geodesy, cartography, cadastre and Earth remote sensing; the counteraction of production and distribution of counterfeit products, and intellectual property protection.

On the same day, Mr Medvedev will take part in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

The meeting will focus on a wide range of issues related to the integrative interaction within the Eurasian Economic Union that comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Plans call for approving a plan of joint actions to abolish withdrawal and limitations on the Union’s market, discussing the work to develop main directions of the digital agenda implementation and the development of the one-stop services system in regulating foreign trade in the member states. Participants will also discuss the organisation of joint research, testing and design works in the agro-industrial sector, the procedure of coordinating subsidies for industrial products, and other issues of mutual interest.

Dmitry Medvedev congratulates Edouard Philippe on his appointment as Prime Minister of France

16 May 2017 12:20

In his congratulatory message, the Prime Minister said, in part:

“I hope that your appointment will foster the progressive development of Russia-France relations. I believe that expanding cooperation in trade and the economy, joint projects in industry, energy, transport infrastructure, high technology and other areas will serve the long-term interests of our countries.”

On 22 May, Dmitry Medvedev will head the Russian delegation at a meeting of heads of state and government from the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Istanbul

16 May 2017 12:10

The meeting’s agenda includes a review of the Organisation’s objectives, specifically to expand hands-on cooperation among the member states, including the development of cross-border roads, as well as sea and energy infrastructure. Participants will also discuss projects concerning renewable energy, energy efficiency, green technology, SMEs promotion, regional and municipal governance, and expanding export potentials of regional players.

The meeting is timed to coincide with the 25^th anniversary of the Organisation. A joint declaration is expected to be adopted.

Roundtable meeting of leaders at Belt and Road international forum

Roundtable meeting of leaders at Belt and Road international forum


Vladimir Putin attended the first roundtable meeting of leaders at the Belt and Road international forum, which covered integration issues and the further development of economic partnership.
May 15, 2017
08:00
Beijing






Roundtable meeting of leaders at Belt and Road international forum.

The leaders of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation adopted a joint statement.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President Xi Jinping, colleagues,

I listened with great interest to the opening remarks by President Xi Jinping yesterday. He laid out ambitious goals, which I would describe as very impressive.

It is obvious that these goals will not be easy to achieve, and that we will have to cover a long road together to achieve them. However, this initiative is fully in keeping with current development trends, and is extremely useful and relevant.

This is why Russia has not just supported the Belt and Road initiative but will actively contribute to achieving it with our Chinese partners and the other concerned parties.

The creation of an economic development and mutually beneficial trade route between Asia and Europe is a highly relevant and important initiative. It takes into account today’s global economic trends, major economic changes and cargo routes and also reflects the overall demand for coordinating different integration formats in Eurasia and other parts of the world, as has been expressed.

It is important that all of the existing integration structures in Eurasia and any new initiatives be based on universal and generally recognised foundations. They must also take into account the specifics of the member states’ national development models and be developed openly and transparently.

Colleagues, Russia is focused on the comprehensive development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In recent years, this association has made considerable achievements in creating and strengthening a common market with common rules for all economic operators.

Of course, we have also encountered problems, which are not uncommon to all the global economies. At the same time, the EAEU has helped us seriously mitigate any negative influence on the member states’ economies and adjust them to new global realities.

The EAEU is steadily developing external ties. Some 50 countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America have shown interest in cooperating with it.

The Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and Vietnam came into effect in October 2016. The EAEU is negotiating a trade and economic cooperation agreement with China and a free trade agreement with Israel. Agreements have been reached to launch talks with Egypt, Iran, India, Serbia and Singapore.

In May 2015, we reached an agreement with our Chinese friends to combine integration within the EAEU and China’s Silk Road Economic Belt project.

Overall, we are talking about the so-called greater Eurasian partnership. It provides for developing multilateral cooperation between the countries of the EAEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Our goal is to create a system of bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate regulation in customs, sanitary and phytosanitary control, industry cooperation and investment, and in protecting intellectual property rights.

The development of this partnership will certainly take much time and effort. This process involves a careful combination of different depths, speeds and levels of integration, but we definitely need to do this. In fact, this is what China and President Xi Jinping have proposed at this forum.

Ultimately, this will enable us to create a common economic space from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Thank you

VLADIMIR PUTIN,PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA, Xi Jinping,President of China had a meeting ..

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping


Vladimir Putin held talks with President of China Xi Jinping. The talks covered, in particular, the prospects of economic cooperation between Russia and China, and topical international issues.
May 14, 2017
06:50
Beijing


With President of China Xi Jinping.

The Russian President congratulated his Chinese counterpart on the successful opening of the One Belt, One Road international forum and pointed out that the event is well-timed. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping also discussed the Chinese President’s upcoming visit to Russia.

* * *

President of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): I am very glad that you and I have held our first meeting this year. Once again, I cordially welcome you to the One Belt, One Road international cooperation forum.

As a Russian proverb goes, ”One swallow doesn't make a summer.“ We say, ”One tree is not a forest yet.“ Three years ago, I came out with the Belts and Roads initiative. All leaders of participating countries actively supported this idea and responded. Leveraging joint efforts, this cooperation, including efforts to link Belts and Roads with the 21st century Maritime Silk Road, has achieved initial success.

Our circle of friends is expanding – our common cause brings benefit to the peoples of all countries. Your participation in the forum and your speech at the opening ceremony gives a powerful signal about China and Russia's intention to jointly promote the creation of an open global economy and boost regional cooperation between countries. This has played an important role in holding the forum at a high level. The Chinese side highly appreciates this.

China and Russia are kind neighbours, good friends and stable partners. Since the beginning of the year, the China-Russia relations and cooperation have continued to develop at a high level, with a number of new results achieved.

During the first quarter, mutual trade stood at $18.1 billion, up 2.9–3 percent, which shows a powerful revival tendency.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Chinese-Russian peace and friendship and 60thanniversary of the Society for Chinese-Soviet Friendship. The sides are in the process of developing and implementing plans for holding various festive events.

We are successfully continuing the events marking the Year of Chinese Mass Media in Russia. This has allowed us to strengthen mutual understanding between our nations and has provided a strong public basis of China-Russia relations and a strategic partnership amid the difficult and ever-changing situation in the world. China and Russia have expressed responsibility as great powers.

The joint efforts in settling the political situation in Syria and the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula has played a stabilising role in providing peace and stability in the region and the world.

Developing and expanding our relations is our strategic choice. Whatever the international situation is, we must be strong and go forward shoulder to shoulder, steadily considering the development of our relations as a foreign policy priority. We must make every effort to properly advance our relations and achieve greater results in our cooperation.

Thank you for your attention.


President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

First of all, congratulations on the successful opening of the large international forum held at your initiative.

As I said in my address today, the timing for this forum is quite good considering the ongoing complicated developments in the world in general and in global economy in particular.

More than ever, we need new cooperation mechanisms in order to open doors to each other, eliminate barriers and obstacles in our cooperation – primarily, in the economy.

In my opinion, the main issue on our bilateral agenda is your upcoming visit to the Russian Federation and we very much look forward to it.

Our governments, the Russian Presidential Executive Office and the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, are currently drafting quite a set of documents, including an action plan toward fulfilling our strategic initiatives for the next few years.

A schedule of contacts has been developed at the level of the governments, ministries, agencies and parliaments of our countries. We are satisfied with the course of our relationship in all these directions.

As concerns the economy, which never leaves our attention, over the last year we have managed to overcome certain negative trends and have achieved a four-percent increase in trade turnover. During the first few months of this year, between January and March, the growth rate was already 37 percent.

What is particularly important and pleasing is that trade patterns are changing structurally. The share of machine engineering and agricultural products is growing for both countries.

However, there is still much room for improvement. Particularly, when it comes to complicated international issues where we always stand side by side and support each other in overcoming various problems. This is certainly a very important factor in international affairs, one that serves to stabilise the political situation.

Let me thank you once again for arranging this event. I am both hopeful and confident that this forum will be held at the highest level.

Thank you.

VLADIMIR PUTIN,PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA,met Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras

Meeting with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras


Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of the One Belt, One Road international forum.
May 14, 2017
11:00
Beijing






Meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues, friends,

I am very pleased to see you again. We all remember your warm welcome during my visit to Athens.

The situation has not changed significantly since that visit, but there are nevertheless some positive developments. They concern the volume of the trade turnover, which has increased by over four percent over last year and by 80 percent over the first two months of this year.

As a whole our trade turnover with the EU has gone up by 43 percent. Our current agenda includes some promising bilateral projects, which unfortunately, are currently on hold but which, in my opinion show positive signs for future development.

See also
One Belt, One Road international forum
May 14, 2017

I am really glad to have this opportunity to meet with you here in Beijing during this large international conference and to be able to discuss all our bilateral issues along with some problems from our international agenda.

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras (retranslated): Mr President, it is a great honour for me to see you in Beijing.

It has been a year since your visit to Greece. Considerable progress has been made in the relations between Russia and Greece. However, we have many unresolved issues that we need to discuss. And the most important ones concern the positive trends in the bilateral trade and the overall situation in the region.

As you have already mentioned, considerable growth in trade has occurred between our countries, and even more considerable growth has occurred in the flow of Russian tourists to Greece. The joint Russia-Greece commission, under which our respective ministries can address current issues, is playing a big role in this growth.

It is very important that our ministries act within the tradition of expanding Russia-Greece relations as this forms the basis of cooperation between our two nations.

Vladimir Putin,president of Russia, spoke at the opening of the One Belt, One Road international forum in Beijing.

One Belt, One Road international forum


Vladimir Putin spoke at the opening of the One Belt, One Road international forum in Beijing.

Russian President has arrived in China on a two-day visit.
May 14, 2017
05:20
Beijing






With participants of the One Belt, One Road international forum.

The forum that is taking place in the Chinese capital is being attended by a number of heads of state and government, presidents of large international organisations, specifically top officials of 28 countries, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. The forum brought together over 1,000 participants.

* * *

Speech at the One Belt, One Road international forum

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President Xi Jinping, heads of state and governments, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to participate in the opening ceremony of the One Belt, One Road international forum. President Xi Jinping informed us about his plans to hold such a representative event back in September at the Russian-Chinese summit in Hangzhou. Of course, we supported this initiative immediately.

Possible concepts for the forum were presented even earlier. Without a doubt, these plans allow for discussion of the huge Eurasian continent’s future in an extended format. Our continent is the home of great civilisations. Peoples of diverse cultures and traditions have lived alongside each other and engaged in trade for centuries.

As you know, the famous Silk Road that once connected almost all of Eurasia ran from one oasis to another, from one water well to another. In the well-known Chinese book, I Ching, with its elaborate language, the well is a symbol of vitality that brings people together to communicate with each other, build trust, connections and friendships.

This historical experience of cooperation and mutual understanding is just as important to us in the 21st century at a time when the world is facing very serious challenges and threats. We have exhausted many former models and indicators of economic development.

In many countries the concept of a social state, coined in the 20th century, is now in crisis. These days, it is not only unable to ensure the steady growth of people’s wealth but can hardly maintain current levels of growth.

The risks of a disrupted global economic and technological space are becoming increasingly obvious. Protectionism is becoming a common practice that manifests itself in unilateral illegitimate restrictions, including how technology is supplied and distributed. The ideas of openness, freedom of trade are often rejected even by those who supported them so vigorously in the past.

The disparity in socioeconomic development and the crisis the globalisation model finds itself in are fraught with negative consequences both for relations between states and for international security.

Poverty, lack of financial security, and the massive gap in the level of development between countries and regions all fuel international terrorism, extremism and illegal migration.

We will not be able to tackle these challenges unless we overcome this stagnation in global economic development.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT decisions

Measures to prevent, identify and stop suspicious financial transactions by foreign trade participants

13 May 2017 07:15

Approval has been granted to the standard draft agreement between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and a customs service (duly authorised body) of a state that is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union on preventing, identifying and stopping suspicious financial transactions by foreign trade participants. Suspicious financial transactions are transactions by foreign trade participants involving financial means that may be used to divert funds outside the country, finance unreported imports and thus evade taxation, legalise (launder) criminal proceeds, and finance terrorism, or to pursue other unlawful goals. This resolution seeks to improve interaction between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the customs services of foreign countries in fighting violations of the currency law of the Russian Federation.

Reference

The draft was submitted by the Finance Ministry.

The signed resolution approves the standard draft agreement between the Federal Customs Service of Russia and a customs service (duly authorised body) of a state that is not a member of the Eurasian Economic Union on preventing, identifying and stopping suspicious financial transactions by foreign trade participants (hereinafter referred to as the standard draft agreement)

Under the standard draft agreement, suspicious financial transactions include transactions by foreign trade participants involving financial assets, regardless of their form or underlying arrangements, that show signs of lacking an explicit economic rationale and clear legal purposes, and which may be intended to divert funds outside the country, finance unreported imports for the purposes of tax evasion, as well as to legalise (launder) criminal proceeds, finance terrorism, or other unlawful purposes.

In order to stop suspicious financial transactions, the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the customs service (duly authorised body) of a foreign state shall share information and/or documents that may be instrumental in identifying such transactions, including establishing cases of funds being diverted abroad, and conduct joint analytical studies regarding these matters.

The standard draft agreement provides a list of information to be exchanged by and between the Russian Federal Customs Service and the customs service (duly authorised body) of a foreign state, as well as the grounds and the procedure for sending and executing requests as part of the information sharing arrangement.

The standard draft agreement is consistent with the provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of 29 May, 2014 and the provisions of other international treaties signed by the Russian Federation.

Approval of the draft CIS Agreement on the joint use of the experimental facilities at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing

13 May 2017 07:00

The implementation of the agreement will facilitate the creation of a mechanism for conducting scientific research at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing by scientists from different countries, providing a synergistic effect through the exchange of research results, samples, materials and software.

Reference

The draft was submitted by the Rosatom State Corporation in accordance with the Framework Programme of Cooperation of the CIS Countries in the Field of the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy until 2020 “Cooperation Atom-CIS” (signed 19 May 2011 in Minsk).

Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing is a unique experimental facility designed for conducting a wide range of research into structural and functional materials, both for the modernisation of existing industrial reactors and for advanced innovative power reactor units, and for solving applied and theoretical problems in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion.

Scientific centres and nuclear industry enterprises in Russia and scientific organisations in other CIS countries are interested in conducting research at the Kazakhstan facility.

The signed directive approves the draft agreement on the joint use of the experimental facilities at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing (hereinafter – the Agreement).

The draft Agreement was approved on 17 March 2017 by decision of the CIS Economic Council.

The Agreement defines areas for cooperation, stipulates the appointment of competent authorities and the establishment of an advisory scientific and technical council. The Agreement contains clauses on export control and protection of intellectual property. The signing of the Agreement will create a legal framework for the joint use of the facility in Kazakhstan by scientists from the CIS countries.

The implementation of the Agreement will contribute to reaching the goals of the Development of the Nuclear Power Industry state programme, create a mechanism for conducting scientific research at Kazakhstan Tokamak for Material Testing by scientists from different countries and enable synergy through the exchange of research results, samples, materials and software.

VLADIMIR PUTIN,PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA:Meeting with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas

Meeting with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas


Vladimir Putin met at his Sochi residence, Bocharov Ruchei, with President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, who is in Russia on a working visit.
May 11, 2017
14:30
Sochi


With President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.

Before the talks, Mr Putin and Mr Abbas participated via video link-up in the opening of a multifunctional cultural and sports centre built with Russia’s assistance in Bethlehem.

The centre was built at Mr Putin’s initiative and is a gift to the people of Palestine.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends, allow me to welcome you in Russia. I am very pleased to see you again.

We have special relations with Palestine and our ties have great significance to us. We spoke just now with our colleagues in Palestine, in Bethlehem, about the deep roots of the relations binding our two countries. And in recent history, our ties have always been very warm and trusting.

I want to thank you, Mr President, for the attention that you pay to Russian-Palestinian relations and for the support you give to our compatriots living in Palestine and those who come to the holy places as pilgrims.

We have been working together for many years now on one of the world’s key issues today – a Middle East settlement

We have much to discuss, of course. It is a great pleasure to see you. I hope that your visit will be very productive.

PresidentofPalestineMahmoudAbbas (retranslated): Thank you very much.

We are indeed filled with joy at the opening of this wonderful centre in Bethlehem, which was built at your initiative. I note your personal attention, and Russia’s attention to strengthening Russian-Palestinian relations.

This year we are marking the 135th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Russia and Palestine. The Palestinian people take pride in these relations, from their establishment and to this day. This is because the Palestinians have always known that you are together with us, support us, and share similar positions. Russia’s position has always remained unchanged in this sense from the start of our ties and to this day.

Russia is distinguished by its firm stance, a position advocating the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem. We have always heard this position from you. It is firm, and you always maintain it.

It is not possible to resolve the Palestinian issue without Russia’s real participation. This is our aim and we always say this at all international platforms.

I would like to say again that we hope for your continued support. We have always said that Russia must stand beside us and take a similar position. I hope that this will be the case over the coming days and months, and that, through these efforts, we will ultimately achieve the creation of the State of Palestine.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

KREMLIN:Press statements following Russian-Palestinian talks

Press statements following Russian-Palestinian talks


Vladimir Putin and Mahmoud Abbas made press statements following their talks.
May 11, 2017
17:45
Sochi
Press statements following Russian-Palestinian talks. With President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Abbas, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to once again welcome Mr Abbas, the President of Palestine, here in Sochi. We had substantive and constructive talks, which, as always, took place in a spirit of trust and openness. We discussed bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process, and the region’s biggest problems.

Russian-Palestinian relations are traditionally friendly and our regular meetings with President Abbas are evidence of the high level of our political dialogue. We are pleased to see that our ministries and agencies maintain regular contacts. Our intergovernmental commission is working hard, and the biggest issue on its agenda is, of course, to build up bilateral trade and develop investment cooperation.

We hope that the Eurasian Economic Union’s decision to include Palestine among the users of the common preference system will also boost bilateral trade. This decision means that a range of Palestinian goods are now exempt from customs duties when imported to EAEU territory.

Humanitarian ties have always had great significance in our cooperation. I would like to remind you that Russia, for a long time now, has supported Palestine in training specialists. There are 500 Palestinians studying today in medical, technical and humanitarian fields in Russian universities.

We have carried out a number of major cultural projects.

Last year, Russia took part in work to renovate Bethlehem’s historic and religious centre – Star Street. This street opens onto the square in front of the Church of Nativity. I am sure that this restoration of the town’s main sites will bring increased numbers of pilgrims and tourists from Russia. More than 300,000 Russian citizens visited Palestine in 2016.

ΚREMLIN's latest news..

Night Hockey League gala match


Vladimir Putin took part in a gala match of the Night Hockey League’s 6thNational Festival that traditionally involved Hockey stars from Russia and abroad.
May 10, 2017
18:00
Sochi






Before the Night Hockey League gala match.

The match took place at the Bolshoi Ice Arena at Sochi’s Olympic Park.

The President was the initiator of the Night Hockey League’s creation and the first match took place in Moscow on May 7, 2012.

* * *

Address to the Night Hockey League Amateur Teams 6th National Festival

Vladimir Putin: Friends, participants in today’s event, sports lovers all around Russia, fans of winter sports and hockey,

I want to congratulate you on today’s event. This year is the sixth such festival.

Amateur hockey is developing rapidly in Russia. This year, more than 800 teams from 73 regions took part in the qualifying rounds.

I would like to address special words of thanks not to the sponsors (though we do say a big thank you to them, of course), nor to the organisers (a big thank you to them too), but to your family members. We are grateful to them for their support.

Of course, I also want to thank our country’s hockey stars, our Olympic, World and European champions. Without their intellectual support and skill, the Night Hockey League would not have been possible.

I wish you all, and our viewers, pleasant moments that will be a delight for all who love hockey.

We have a competition ahead today, but it is a friendly competition, a festival of sports and hockey.

Congratulations!

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu


At Israel’s initiative, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu.
May 10, 2017
14:00


Mr Netanyahu warmly congratulated Mr Putin and the entire Russian people on the 72ndanniversary of Victory in World War II.

Both leaders noted that Russia and Israel would continue their resolute opposition to attempts to revise the results of World War II, diminish the Soviet Union’s contribution to victory over Nazi Germany, and deny the Holocaust.

Mr Putin and Mr Netanyahu discussed current bilateral cooperation matters, the situation with the Middle East peace settlement and the Syrian crisis.

List of instructions following meeting with business associations in Novgorod Region


Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions drafted following a meeting with business and consumer organisation representatives in Novgorod Region on April 18, 2017.
May 10, 2017
10:00


In particular, the President instructed the Government to draft and approve an action plan for preserving, reviving and developing folk arts and crafts.

The Government shall also develop opportunities for using folk arts and crafts in extra-curricular educational programmes for children.

The roadmap should also include plans for developing domestic and foreign tourism to places where folk arts and crafts are traditionally practiced.

Executive Order signed to reinforce security measures during World Cup and Confederation Cup football competitions in Russia


The President signed the Executive Order On Specific Application of Reinforced Security Measures during the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederation Cup in the Russian Federation.
May 10, 2017
09:20


The tighter security measures will apply in Russian regions that host infrastructure facilities designed for use in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 Confederation Cup, and in the surrounding waters.

The measures will be in force during the Confederation Cup from June 1 to July 12, 2017, and during the World Cup from May 25 to July 25, 2018.

VLADIMIR PUTIN,PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA:took part in the Immortal Regiment march...

Vladimir Putin took part in the Immortal Regiment march


On Victory Day, Vladimir Putin joined the Immortal Regiment march with a portrait of his father, who fought in the war.
May 9, 2017
15:20
Moscow






Vladimir Putin took part in the Immortal Regiment march.

On May 9, people across Russia and abroad join the Immortal Regiment march, carrying portraits of their relatives who took part in the Great Patriotic War. The first such march took place in Tomsk in 2012.

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Congratulations to the heads of a number of states on the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War


Vladimir Putin congratulated the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the citizens of Georgia and Ukraine, on the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
May 8, 2017
12:00


In his congratulatory messages, the President of Russia emphasised that Victory Day is a sacred date and a symbol of the unparalleled heroism of our fathers and grandfathers who fought shoulder to shoulder on the war’s frontlines and worked tirelessly on the home front to save the Motherland and all of humanity from fascism.

Vladimir Putin underscored that uniting efforts to fight any attempts to distort history and justify the criminal acts of fascism and Nazism would be the best way to pay tribute to the liberators.

The President also said that he is confident that the traditions of brotherly friendship and mutual assistance forged during the war will continue to serve as a solid foundation for developing allied partnerships, promoting cooperation among our countries and ensuring regional stability and security.

Vladimir Putin conveyed his deepest gratitude to war veterans and home front workers, wishing them good health, well-being and longevity.

Dmitry Medvedev congratulates heads of government of CIS countries, Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 72nd Victory anniversary

8 May 2017 12:30

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has sent congratulatory messages to the prime ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the 72^ndanniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The messages stress that Victory Day is a great holiday symbolising the immortal feat of our fathers and grandfathers, who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, as well as the heroism of home front workers.

Mr Medvedev expressed confidence that the traditions of friendship established during the years of wartime ordeals would continue to serve as a reliable foundation for allied relations and strategic partnership between countries.

The Prime Minister asked his counterparts to convey wishes of happiness, prosperity and a long life to Great Patriotic War veterans in CIS countries, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as sincere words of respect and gratitude for their selfless heroic feat.






Historical revision opens the road to a revision of the foundations of the modern world order and erosion of key principles of international law and security that took shape following World War II.
Meeting of the Pobeda (Victory) Organising Committee

Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected the troops during the military parade.

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces Colonel General Oleg Salyukov was in command of the parade.

Over 10,000 personnel and 114 units of military equipment took part in the parade.

The parade was traditionally opened by the drummer company of the Moscow Military Music School.

Cadets from military academies, Suvorov and Nakhimov military academies, cadet corps as well as servicemen from the Western Military District, Russian Emergencies Ministry, National Guard and Federal Security Service, Young Army members, and servicemen of the 61st Detached Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet coastal defence troops marched on Red Square.

The military equipment column was headed by the T-34–85 tank followed by Tigr-M, Taifun-K and Taifun-M armoured vehicles. The motorised column was proceeded with Kurganets-25 and BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles, T-14 Armata and T-72B3 tanks, Iskander-M missile systems, Buk-M2 and Tor-M2U tactical air defence missile systems, Rakushka airborne multi-purpose armoured personnel carriers and BMD-4M airborne assault vehicles. S-400 air defence missile systems and autonomous launching units of the cutting-edge Yars missile system rolled onto Red Square. The Bumerang infantry fighting vehicles concluded the motorised column.

For the first time, the newest Arctic versions of the famous Tor-M2DT air defence missile systems and Pantsir-SA air defence gun and missile systems took part in the parade.

The music was provided for by the combined military band of the Moscow Garrison headed by Distinguished Artist of Russia Colonel Timofei Mayakin.

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Speech at military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941–45 Great Patriotic War

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, veterans, comrade soldiers and sailors, sergeants, midshipmen and corporals, comrade officers, generals and admirals,

I congratulate you on Victory Day. Happy holiday, a holiday whose significance was earned by the people themselves with their unparalleled feat of liberating our Fatherland and their heroic and decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism.

The triumphant victory over that terrible totalitarian force will forever remain in the history of humankind as a supreme triumph of life and reason over death and barbarity.

It is our duty to remember that the victory was achieved at the cost on irreparable sacrifices, that the war claimed millions of lives. This monstrous tragedy was made possible primarily due to connivance to the criminal ideology of racial superiority and due to the lack of unity among the world’s leading nations. This allowed the Nazis to arrogate the right to decide the destiny of other peoples, to unleash the cruellest, bloodiest war, to enslave nearly all European nations and make them serve their murderous goals.

The Soviet Union faced the most powerful assaults by the Nazis.

But there was not, there is not and there will never be a power that could defeat our people.

They fought to the bitter end defending the homeland, and achieved the seemingly impossible by turning around the bloody wheel of World War II, and drove the enemy back to its home whence it dared to invade our land, crushed Nazism and put an end to its atrocities.

We will never forget that it was our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers who won back Europe’s freedom and the long-awaited peace.

The Great Victory was won by marshals and privates, volunteers and home front workers, partisans and the fighters of the underground. Old people and children. People of all ethnicities and trades. They all passed through the unthinkable ordeals of World War II with courage and unrivalled patience.

Without sleep or rest, they worked at the plants and in hospitals, they burnt in tanks, froze in trenches, drowned at river crossings, shielded their comrades in arms. They rushed into attacks realising that the battle could be their last one. They died without learning of the Victory yet they did all they could to bring it closer.

Speech at military parade marking the 72nd anniversary of Victory in the 1941–45 Great Patriotic War

Today, we bow our heads to cherish the memory of those who did not come back from the war, in memory of the sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, husbands, wives, sisters, fellow soldiers, family members and friends. We mourn the veterans who are already gone.

I ask for a minute of silence.

(A minute of silence)

Dear friends,

We celebrate Victory Day in each family across our huge country. No family was spared by the war. And we begin by honouring our veterans. We do it without hiding our tears and without shunning high-sounding words. They come from our hearts filled with respect and gratitude.

We feel a kinship and a piercing closeness to the generation of heroes and victors, and when addressing them, I will say: You will never feel ashamed of us.

A Russian soldier is ready today as ever for any sacrifice for his Motherland, for his people, showing courage and heroism.

Such warriors, soldiers and officers are here now, standing in the parade formations on Moscow’s Red Square. The country is proud of you!

We will always cherish Russia as you, the Soldiers of Victory, did, and we will strengthen the traditions of patriotism and committed service to the Fatherland.

The lessons of the past war call on us to be vigilant. And the Russian Armed Forces are ready to counter any potential aggression.

Life itself demands from us that we must increase our defence potential. However, the consolidation of the world community is needed for an effective fight against terrorism, extremism, neo-Nazism and other threats.

We are open to such cooperation. Russia will always side with the forces of peace, with those who opt for equal partnership, who reject wars as contrary to the very essence of life and the nature of man.

Dear friends,

The further the events of the Great Patriotic War fade into history, the greater is our responsibility to future generations. We must give them stability and peace on the planet. We must pass on to them the grave heroic truth and memory of the Great Patriotic War, the spirit and meaning of Great Victory.

We must do this so that our descendants should love Russia as much, and the people’s memory should forever cherish the generation that selflessly fought for its Motherland and protected its freedom and independence with honour.

Glory to the victorious people!

Happy holiday! Happy Victory Day!

Hurray!