Vladimir Putin and Boris Tadic attend a news conference
Vladimir Putin's address: Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to begin by saying how glad I am to return to Belgrade. I am grateful to my Serbian friends for their heartfelt hospitality.
Our relations have been built upon friendship, mutual assistance, and spiritual affinity for centuries. Today's exchange of opinion with President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, and our other colleagues on a wide range of issues was proof of the profound understanding that exists between our nations to this day. We are overcoming the aftermath of the global economic crisis and steadily increasing trade. It grew by more than a quarter last year to $1.4 billion, and Russia has firmly established itself among Serbia's leading trade partners.
During our talks, we had a detailed discussion of the energy industry – particularly, the implementation of ambitious plans in the oil and gas industry and the construction of the Serbian stretch of the South Stream pipeline. Gazprom representatives introduced the project today with an in-depth account of its potential and the opportunities it promises for Serbia. Notably, the legal phase of the project among all South Stream partners is proceeding on schedule.
An agreement on the incorporation of another European partner was made in Moscow the day before our visit. As you know, Italy's ENI and France's Electricite de France are involved in the project. The German BASF has now joined as well. An agreement was signed in Ljubljana yesterday on the establishment of a joint venture to design, construct, and operate the Slovene stretch of the pipeline. Work on the project is gaining momentum and, doubtless, has acquired a pan-European scale.
Other joint ventures have also been successful: the Banatski Dvor underground gas storage facility will open soon, and there has been generous investment in the modernisation of the NIS (Petroleum Industry of Serbia). Its Russian partner has contributed 500 million euros this year alone.
We attach great importance to a closer partnership in investment. The list of our joint economic ventures grows with every passing day. Russian businesses will also assist Serbia with railway construction and renovation – at any rate, we mentioned this matter today.
For our part, we would like to draw on ample Serbian experience in tourism infrastructure. Today, we discussed the prospects for involving Serbian construction businesses in the preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The construction of a regional emergency centre in Nis was one of the items on our agenda. Russian and Serbian rescuers intend to use it as a base for joint disaster relief efforts. We are calling on other Southeast European countries to join the project as well.
We are also interested in closer bilateral cooperation in research, culture, and education and increased contact between our citizens. No doubt, the intergovernmental agreements signed today on scientific and technical cooperation and partnership in the tourist industry will promote such cooperation. I would like to add that Russian Culture Days were a great success in Serbia last September, and Serbian performers will be touring Russia this autumn. I am sure they will have appreciative audiences.
In conclusion, I would like to thank my Serbian colleagues again for extremely constructive talks and for their readiness to strengthen the centuries-long friendship between the Serbian and Russian nations. Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin and Boris Tadic answer journalists' questions:
Question: I address my question to both leaders – the Russian prime minister and the Serbian president. Belgrade's political line has lately become pronounced in the European Union. On the other hand, EU legislation, particularly the Third Energy Package, is creating obstacles on the road to a more efficient energy partnership. Do you think it might impede South Stream construction and slow down the growth of [your] partnership? Or will you arrive at fruitful forms of cooperation?
Vladimir Putin: First, Serbia's European orientation and its desire to join the European Union do not alarm us. We will certainly closely monitor the process together with our Serbian colleagues lest European integration impede Russian-Serbian relations. I think that it is quite possible (to achieve a fruitful partnership) and that we will find the right road to take.
As for the Third Energy Package, I have already given my opinion on it. We think that the document should at least be largely amended. We need to hold negotiations with the European Commission as a result. In fact, such talks are underway now. We think that the package clashes with our fundamental agreements on cooperation with the European Union, which have been signed and entered into force. More than that, the package would be to the detriment of Russian energy cooperation with Europe. I have an impression that our partners in Brussels are not deaf to certain arguments – our arguments, at any rate. We had a frank, amicable discussion of the matter during our last visit , and I expect that compromises will be made.
Boris Tadic (as translated): Thank you for an outspoken answer. Membership in the European Union is Serbia's strategic goal. But then, our strategic interests also lie in our all-embracing cooperation with Russia – particularly energy cooperation. On the whole, I don't think that the European Union is capable of solving its energy problems outside a partnership with Russia. In this context, we should seek solutions to all the questions raised by the Third Energy Package, and I am sure that Serbia will be part of such agreements.
Question: My question concerns both leaders – the Russian prime minister and the Serbian president. What joint energy projects do you consider of the greatest interest after today's talks? Which projects will be implemented in the near future – in particular, those funded by Russian loans to Serbia?
Boris Tadic: I dare note once again that we have decided to implement several projects using $800 million from the loan that we have been discussing today. These projects will mainly concern railway cargo transport, and we will implement them one by one.
more to be posted soon...
источник новости: http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/14609/
