[ALBSA-Info] Putin in Greece - various sources

[Agron Alibali]

RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest 

December 6, 2001 Thursday 
Gas and oranges 

 Elena Yakovleva 


Izvestia, p. 2 
 
Today Putin, accompanied by experts, sets for Greece 


Today Vladimir Putin departs on a visit to Greece. Among the accompanying experts are such outstanding figures as the "Gazprom" head Alexey Miller, "Lucoil" head Vagit Alecperov, representatives of "Rosoboronexport" and Vneshekonombank. The two countries' leaders will discuss the general issues, and delegations will focus on one of the most comical problems, relating to gas trade. 

The visit will be rather long today Putin meets his Greek counterpart Konstantinos Stephanopulos and tomorrow is to give a speech at the Athens University and receive yet another honorary degree. On Saturday the Russian President will visit places of historical and religious interest, - Salonika, Aphon, St. Panteleymon's monastery. 

The main issue on the visit's economic agenda is building of a pipeline that would allow transporting Caspian petroleum via Bulgaria and Greece to Western Europe. This route is considered better than that through Georgia and Turkey. 

The Greek part, in turn, asks for gas supply privileges. The Greek Deputy Foreign Minister expressed hope, that during the Putin's visit the parts would agree on restoring Greek-Soviet bilateral trade agreements, according to which Russia received not money, but Greek goods in exchange for gas. These barter agreements, signed back in 1987, stipulate that 70% of the revenue Russia receives from selling gas to Greece are to be used for purchasing Greek goods. 

The Greek official complained, that the "Gazprom" management, headed by Alexey Miller, underestimates the barter agreements. In exchange for Russian gas Greece offers oranges, other foodstuffs, cosmetics and medicines. 

Russia considers barter agreements to be an anachronism. In the first two quarters of 2001 Greece has paid $ 397 million for Russian gas. Its price, "denominated" in oranges, would probably be lower. 


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Russian president tells Greek MPs: Russian democracy is growing stronger 

Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1648 gmt 6 Dec 01 




Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax 

Athens, 6 December: Over the centuries, Russia "has always supported the people of Greece and Greek statehood," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a speech he delivered in the Greek parliament on Thursday. Modern Russia "not only absorbed these traditions, but intends to develop them in the most positive manner," he said. Thanking his hosts for the warm welcome the Russian delegation received in Greece, Putin stressed that it is "a special honour" for him to speak in the Greek parliament. 

Russia is perhaps more aware than any other country in the world of the "great contribution that the Greek nation made to civilization". 

He recalled that "the principles of democracy have flourished" in Greece since ancient times. 

Russian parliamentarianism emerged only at the beginning of the last century, and the new Russian parliamentarianism is only ten years old, Putin said. These were years of "difficult economic and social changes", to which the Russian parliament made a considerable contribution, he said. Democratic reforms in Russia are being conducted "on the basis of laws", the Russian president said, pointing out that "the democratic institutions in Russia are growing stronger". 

Putin said Russia firmly intends to create "stable democratic institutions and ensure stable growth on the basis of a market economy". 
===

No political problems between Russia and Greece - presidents agree 

Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1454 gmt 6 Dec 01 




Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax 

Athens, 6 December: Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Konstandinos Stefanopoulos of Greece said there are no political problems in relations between the two countries. 

"Today, when Russia and Greece are not divided by ideological problems, the geopolitical foundations of today's relations are starting to play their due role," Putin told a news conference in Athens on Thursday. "We have common views on many international events," the Russian president said. 

He said that the president of Greece had given him a collection of the works of Plato. The philosopher said that true friendship is only possible between close people, and these words can be rightfully said about Russia and Greece, Putin remarked. 

The Russian president said that Russian-Greek trade turnover has increased by 40 per cent over the past year and a number of possible areas of cooperation have emerged. 

Among the areas of Russian-Greek cooperation, Putin named energy, high technologies, and the creation of transport infrastructures. 

Putin said that Russian enterprises are ready to take part in the processes of liberalization of the Greek energy industry. 

The Russian president said he hopes that when Greece chairs the EU in 2003, the development of Russian-Greek relations "will receive a new impetus". 

The Greek president said that "political relations between the two countries are at a very high level, and there are no political problems between Russia and Greece." 

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Russia, Greece sign six bilateral agreements 

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1414 gmt 6 Dec 01 




Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS 

Athens, 6 December: Six bilateral documents have been signed after the talks which the Russian and Greek presidents, Vladimir Putin and Konstandinos Stefanopoulos, held in Athens today. The key document deals with the two countries' cooperation in various fields of the fuel-and-energy sector. The other documents include a programme of Russian-Greek cultural and scientific cooperation for 2002-2004, and an agreement between the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry and the Greek Ministry of Public Order on cooperation in fighting crime. 

Besides, agreements were concluded on air traffic and on merchant navigation, and an agreement on the setting up of cultural centres of the two countries in Moscow and Athens and on conditions of their functioning. 


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Russian president talks of Balkan peace and sales of arms to Greece 

Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1400 gmt 6 Dec 01 




Text of report by Russia TV on 6 December 

Presenter The Russian president is already in a meeting with Greek MPs. As he left the residence of President Konstandinos Stefanopoulos, Putin was able to share impressions of his talks with journalists. We have another correspondent, Andrey Rumyantsev, working in Athens. Andrey, we know the president has already spoken to the press. What did they say? 

Correspondent Hello, Anna. Yes, a news conference ended about 20 minutes ago and Vladimir Putin has already set off for parliament. The two presidents shared their impressions of the talks. 

As everyone expected, both Vladimir Putin and Konstandinos Stefanopoulos said that the views of Russia and Greece on most international issues are either close or identical. Incidentally, the Greek president gave Vladimir Putin a translation of Plato's Republic today and, as Vladimir Putin told the news conference - and this is a quotation from Plato - real friendship can only bind together people who are already close and, similarly, Vladimir Putin believes that real friendship binds Russia and Greece, two countries that are close to one another. 

The talks covered quite a lot of issues from military and technical cooperation to the situation in the most dangerous regions of the world, and above all in the Balkans because Greece is one of the countries that is a haven of stability in the Balkans. Here is what Vladimir Putin had to say about the situation in the region: 

Putin Any peace is better than war but, in my view, it could have been better. It would have been better if the international community had shown greater firmness, toughness and consistency in standing up to the individuals and groups that attempt to solve political problems with weapons. 

Presenter Andrey, we know that Greece is the only NATO country to buy Russian weapons. Was military and technical cooperation discussed at the talks and what was said about it? 

Correspondent Yes, the two presidents said they had talked about this, although it wasn't the main topic. Even before his talks with the Greek president, Vladimir Putin said in an interview for Greek journalists that the topic was more likely to be discussed later on by experts. At present, Greece spends around 10 per cent of its military budget on purchasing weapons from Russia. Incidentally, we don't yet know whether this practice will continue. Vladimir Putin said that, no matter what, Russia would always be a reliable partner for Greece in this sphere. 

Putin, to Greek translation Our relations with Greece in the military and technical sphere really are developing. I have to say, however, that in the overall volume of weapons purchases, Russia has what is a very modest place. But we should say that we don't lay claim to any particularly exclusive role on the Greek arms market. We only hope and are relying on the fact - when there are tenders or preliminary research in arms procurement and Russian manufacturers have access to those tenders - that conditions for them will be no worse than for the other participants in such competitions. 
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Russia's Putin urges international community to tighten grip on extremists 

Russian Public TV (ORT), Moscow, in Russian 1500 gmt 6 Dec 01 
 


The international community must show greater firmness, toughness and consistency in standing up to those who try to solve political problems with weapons, President Putin has told a news conference in Athens. He expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East and urged those responsible for stabilizing it to "neutralize extremist groupings and individuals". The following is an excerpt from report broadcast by Russian Public TV on 6 December: 

Presenter Russian President Vladimir Putin today began an official visit to Greece. He held talks in Athens with Greek President Konstandinos Stefanopoulos. Addressing a joint news conference after the talks, Vladimir Putin spoke against the revision of borders in the Balkans and in favour of settling the Cyprus problem through a dialogue... Correspondent After the talks have ended and a whole set of agreements have been signed - ranging from the agreement on air traffic to the agreement on cooperation in the fuel-and-energy sector - Vladimir Putin and his Greek counterpart, Stefanopoulos, answered journalists' questions. They dealt not only with bilateral relations but also with world events. 

Putin Now that we are no longer separated by considerations of ideological nature, geopolitical fundamentals of our cooperation begin to play a befitting role. Precisely this lies in the basis of our cooperation and this determines their development trends. This is precisely why our views on many problems of world developments coincide, and I really do agree with Mr President on that score. 

Question from an unidentified journalist It has been said here that the two countries' stands on the Balkan issue are close to each other or they even coincide. To what extent do you think you are satisfied with the current developments in the Balkans, and what do you think the main ways are towards settling the situation in the region? 

Putin Any peace is better than war, and the fact that no gunfire is now heard there is good news, but, in my view, it could have been better. It would have been better if the international community had shown greater firmness, toughness and consistency in standing up to the individuals and groups that attempt to solve political problems with weapons. Some people have not yet got rid of this desire. And, most importantly, we must be doing our best to ensure that all the decisions taken within the framework of the United Nations, including the 1244 resolution, are implemented. 

Question from an unidentified correspondent Here is a question for Mr Putin. What is your assessment of the escalation of violence in the Middle East and, particularly, the latest attack on Palestine? 

Putin We are very much concerned over the situation in the Middle East. Despite the efforts taken by the international community, unfortunately, attempts to work out procedures that would make the warring sides sit at the negotiating table have so far been fruitless. We are convinced that responsible people, those who assumed responsibility for the situation in the Middle East - on both sides - must do everything they can to neutralize extremist groupings and individuals... 


 



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