“First, the constitution [of Ukraine] has to be reformed. Only then can confidence building and border security follow.” FirstsSecurityBuildingConstitutionBordersUkraineConfidence BuildingBorder Security Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Chancellor [Angela Merkel] and the European partners would be well-advised to address the problems in eastern Ukraine more thoroughly. Maybe they have too many domestic problems of their own at the moment.” WellsMomentsProblemWould BePartnersAddressesEasternUkraineAngela Author:Vladimir Putin
“At least Germany and France have recently criticized that the Ukrainian central government has limited certain parts of the autonomy regulations to three years. They were supposed to last permanently.” YearsGovernmentLastsCertainThreeFranceGermanyThree YearsRegulationAutonomyUkrainianCentral Government Author:Vladimir Putin
“Admire? No, I have never said that. I still appreciate Angela Merkel as a very professional and open person.” PersonsSaidStillsAppreciateAdmireAngela Author:Vladimir Putin
“I did not know that [ the Chancellor Angela Merkel is a bit frightened of dogs]. I wanted to make her happy. When I learned that she does not like dogs, I apologized, of course.” KnowsDoeWantedCoursesBitsDogFrightenedAngela Author:Vladimir Putin
“We would like to draw the attention of our partners, of potential investors to the Russian Far East.” AttentionDrawsEastPartnersInvestors Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia hosts a lot of forums, including the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, [usually in the beginning of summer], as well as the Economic Forum in Sochi.” WellsEconomicSummerIncludingInternationalRussiaHostForumsSochi Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Far East is of particular significance for us in terms of this region's priority development. Over the last few years, let us say even over the last decades, we were faced with many problems here. We paid little attention to this territory although it deserves a lot more of it, because it concentrates great wealth as well as opportunities for Russia's future development.” YearsWellsLittlesProblemLastsOpportunityTermWealthAttentionParticularDevelopmentDeservePaidEastDecadesPrioritiesRussiaRegionsSignificanceTerritoryFuture Development Author:Vladimir Putin
“When we talk about the Far East we usually mean the Far East itself, including Primorye Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Kamchatka, and Chukotka, as well as Eastern Siberia. All this area contains tremendous resources, including oil and gas, 90 percent of Russian tin, 30 percent of Russian gold, 35 percent of forest, 70 percent of Russia's fish is harvested in the local waters.” WellsMeanWaterPercentResourcesAreasGoldIncludingFishesOilEastRussiaLocalsForestsGasTerritoryEasternTinOil And GasSiberia Author:Vladimir Putin
“This is a region [ Far East] with a substantially developed transport and railroad infrastructure. In recent years we have been actively developing road connection.” YearsHas BeensConnectionsEastDevelopingRegionsInfrastructureTransportRailroads Author:Vladimir Putin
“There is also a huge potential for developing the aviation and space industries. As you might have noticed we have launched a new Russian spaceport in one of the Far Eastern regions.” MightSpaceHugeIndustryDevelopingAviationRegionsEastern Author:Vladimir Putin
“The aviation industry, including combat air force, has been traditionally developing here. It is the Russian Far East where the SU aircraft, which are well known worldwide, are manufactured.” WellsHas BeensForceKnownAirIndustryIncludingEastDevelopingAviationCombatWell KnownAir ForceAircraft Author:Vladimir Putin
“Our intention is to develop music, theatre and exhibition activities on the Far Eastern regions.” ActivityIntentionTheatreRegionsEasternExhibitions Author:Vladimir Putin
“We are going to set up a branch of the St Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre here [on the Far Easter]. We are also planning to open local branches of the Hermitage Museum and the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.” TheatrePlanningLocalsBranchesMuseumsBalletEasterAcademy Author:Vladimir Putin
“We would like to see science and higher education developing here [on the Russian Far East], so that it could become one of the major research centres in the entire APR system. Undoubtedly a lot remains to be done here, but given the labour market demand, the relevance of such a university is undeniable.” DoneGivenHigherDemandMajorsResearchRemainsUniversityEastDevelopingLabourCentreRelevanceHigher Education Author:Vladimir Putin
“There is another domain that we consider relevant and having good prospects - marine biology. For many years this region [Russian Far East] has been home for one of the leading institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Marine Biology.” YearsHas BeensHomeEastRegionsBiologyRelevantDomainMarineAcademyInstituteProspectsInstitutesMarine Biology Author:Vladimir Putin
“A very interesting and promising cluster has formed here [in the Russian Far East ], and we would be happy if our potential investors, our counterparts from abroad, first of all those from the Asia-Pacific region, knew more about it.” IfsFirstsWould BeInterestingEastRegionsInvestorsAsiaVery InterestingPacificCounterpartsClusters Author:Vladimir Putin
“We do not trade territories although concluding a peace treaty with Japan is certainly a key issue and we would like to find a solution to this problem together with our Japanese friends.” ProblemTogetherIssuesKeysSolutionsTradeJapanTerritoryTreatiesConcludingPeace Treaties Author:Vladimir Putin
“Back in 1956, we signed a treaty and surprisingly it was ratified both by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union and the Japanese Parliament. But then Japan refused to implement it and after that the Soviet Union also, so to say, nullified all the agreements reached within the framework of the treaty.” UnionsSupremeJapanAgreementSovietSoviet UnionParliamentFrameworkTreaties Author:Vladimir Putin
“Some years ago our Japanese counterparts asked us to resume the discussions of the issue and so we did meeting them halfway. Over the passed couple of years the contacts were practically frozen on the initiative of the Japanese side, not ours. At the same time, presently our partners have expressed their eagerness to resume discussions on this issue [the Kuril Islands].” YearsSidesIssuesCoupleYears AgoMeetingsPartnersContactDiscussionIslandsInitiativeFrozenHalfwayResumesCounterpartsEagerness Author:Vladimir Putin
“It has nothing to do with any kind of exchange or sale [of Kuril island to Japan]. It is about the search for a solution when neither party would be at a disadvantage, when neither party would perceive itself as conquered or defeated.” KindWould BePartySolutionsPerceiveIslandsJapanDefeatedDisadvantages Author:Vladimir Putin
“We handed over nothing, those territories [Tarabarov Island to China] were disputed and we have been negotiating this issue with the People's Republic of China, let me stress that, for 40 years, and finally managed to come to an agreement. One part of the territory was assigned to Russia, while another part - to the People's Republic of China.” PeopleYearsHas BeensIssuesLet MeStressChinaRussiaIslandsAgreementRepublicTerritoryNegotiating Author:Vladimir Putin
“Notably, it was only possible [ negotiating on the Tarabarov Island], and this is very important, due to the high level of trust Russia and China reached in their relations by that time. If we reach the same level of trust with Japan, we might be able to reach certain compromises.” IfsImportantMightAbleCertainLevelsRelationChinaDuesRussiaCompromiseIslandsJapanHigh LevelNegotiating Author:Vladimir Putin
“However, there is a fundamental difference between the issue related to Japan's history and our negotiations with China. What is it all about? The Japanese issue resulted from World War II and is stipulated in the international instruments on the outcomes of World War II, while our discussions on border issues with our Chinese counterparts have nothing to do with World War II or any other military conflicts. This is the first, or rather, I should say, the second point.” WorldShouldFirstsWarDifferencesIssuesMilitaryConflictFundamentalsInstrumentsInternationalChinaChineseDiscussionBordersWar Of The WorldsOutcomesRelatedJapanWorld War IiWorld War INegotiationCounterparts Author:Vladimir Putin
“If someone is willing to reconsider the results of World War II, let us discuss this. But then we will have to discuss not only Kaliningrad, but also the eastern lands of Germany, the city of Lvov, a former part of Poland, and so on, and so forth. There are also Hungary and Romania on the list.” IfsWorldWarResultsCitiesLandWillingListsFormerWar Of The WorldsGermanyWorld War IiWorld War IEasternPolandHungaryRomania Author:Vladimir Putin
“If someone wants to open this Pandora's box and deal with it, all right, go for it then.” IfsWantDealsBoxesPandoraPandora's Box Author:Vladimir Putin
“The sanctions have nothing to do with our relations with China, because our relations with the People's Republic of China are at an unprecedented high both in terms of their level and substance. They are what we call "a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation".” PeopleTermLevelsRelationChinaSubstanceRepublicCooperationPartnershipStrategicComprehensiveSanctionsUnprecedented Author:Vladimir Putin
“Sanctions have nothing to do with this [relations with the People's Republic of China]. The decline in our mutual trade has objective causes, which are the energy prices and the exchange rate difference. But the physical volumes have not decreased, quite the opposite actually. They are growing.” PeopleEnergyCausesDifferencesGrowingOppositesRelationTradeRateChinaObjectivesMutualRepublicDeclineVolumeSanctions Author:Vladimir Putin
“As to our trade and economic relations with China, they are growing more and more diverse each day, something we have worked on for a long time with our partners from China.” LongGrowingEconomicLong TimeRelationTradeChinaPartnersEach DayDiverse Author:Vladimir Putin
“I would like to draw attention to the fact that we have gone from pure trade [with China] in traditional goods [energy resources, such as hydrocarbons, oil and now natural gas, petrochemicals on the one hand and textiles and footwear on the other] to a whole new level of economic cooperation. For example, we are working together on space programmes. Moreover, we are developing and soon will begin the production of a heavy helicopter. We are now tracing the plan for the creation of a wide-body long-range aircraft.” LongWholeFactsBodyHandsTogetherEnergyNaturalSpaceLevelsAttentionGonePlansEconomicExampleCreationPureDrawsResourcesTradeProductionsHeavyChinaWideOilTraditionalDevelopingRangeGasWorking TogetherGoodsCooperationProgrammesAircraftHelicoptersNatural GasTracingTextilesFootwearHydrocarbonsEconomic Cooperation Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia and China also cooperate in mechanical engineering, high-speed railway transportation, lumber processing, nuclear energy production and so on. We have built the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. Two units are already operational and are showing good results.” TwoEnergyResultsBuiltPlantProductionsChinaSpeedNuclearRussiaEngineeringUnitsTransportationProcessingRailwayNuclear PowerHigh SpeedPower PlantsNuclear EnergyLumberEnergy Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“The goal we have set for ourselves, which is to diversify our cooperation with China, is making progress.” GoalProgressChinaCooperation Author:Vladimir Putin
“If I said that oil production would collapse I was wrong.” IfsSaidProductionsOilCollapseOil Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“I do not remember when I said this [oil production would collapse ], maybe in the heat of the moment, but I do not think I even said it, but I may just not remember it. I was saying that at a certain level of oil prices new deposits will not be explored. That is what is actually happening. However, surprisingly, our oil and gas workers [mainly oilmen] continue to invest.” ThinkingMaySaidMomentsRememberCertainLevelsHappeningsWorkersProductionsOilHeatGasCollapseRemember WhenDepositsOil And GasOil PriceOil ProductionHeat Of The Moment Author:Vladimir Putin
“Oil production, energy production are growing, though the latter has gone down by about 1 percent here, I believe... By the way, we occupy the first place in the world in gas export, accounting for 20 percent of the world market. We are also first in the sphere of liquid hydrocarbons export.” WorldWayFirstsBelieveEnergyI BelieveGoneGrowingPercentProductionsOilGasLatterSpheresLiquidAccountingPlaces In The WorldHydrocarbonsOil ProductionEnergy Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“Though we still come first in the sphere of gas export, national production has diminished due to the increasing volumes of hydrogenation for the electric power industry and therefore there is a lower need for gas at thermal power plants.” NeedsFirstsStillsIndustryPlantProductionsDuesGasSpheresElectricVolumePower PlantsThermalElectric Power Author:Vladimir Putin
“In general, Gazprom is doing well and is increasing export in its traditional partner countries.” WellsCountryPartnersTraditional Author:Vladimir Putin
“Mohammed bin Salman is deputy Crown Prince, but this is not so important. He is a very active statesman, we have really warm relations. This is a person who knows what he wants and can achieve his goals. At the same time I consider him to be a reliable partner with whom one can negotiate and be sure that agreements with him will be implemented.” KnowsWantPersonsImportantGoalAchieveRelationWarmActivePartnersAgreementCrownsStatesmenDeputies Author:Vladimir Putin
“However, it was not us who refused to freeze oil production; our Saudi partners changed their point of view at the last moment and decided to slow down the adoption of this decision. I would like to reiterate our position, it remains the same.” MomentsLastsDecisionViewsPositionChangedDecidedRemainsProductionsOilPoint Of ViewPartnersAdoptionSlow DownFreezeSaudisOil Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“We understand that the Iranian position is very bad because of the well-known sanctions against that country, and it would be unfair to leave it on this sanction level.” WellsCountryWould BeLevelsKnownPositionUnfairWell KnownSanctionsIranian Author:Vladimir Putin
“I believe that in fact it would be economically reasonable and logical to reach a compromise [on oil production], I am sure that everybody understands this.” BelieveFactsWould BeI BelieveProductionsOilCompromiseReasonableLogicalOil Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“This issue is not economic but political. I hope that all market participants interested in maintaining stable and reasonable world energy prices will finally make the right decision.” WorldPoliticalEnergyDecisionIssuesEconomicReasonableStableMaintainingParticipantsRight DecisionMake The Right Decision Author:Vladimir Putin
“Strictly speaking, Rosneft is not a company. Let us not forget that BP has a stake in Rosneft and BP is a British company.” ForgetCompanyBritishStakes Author:Vladimir Putin
“We may have more control, but my point is that, strictly speaking, Rosneft is not a state company. I think that this is an obvious fact, as a foreign investor has a 19.7 percent stake in it.” ThinkingMayStatesFactsCompanyPercentObviousInvestorsStakes Author:Vladimir Putin
“However, given the fact that the State has a controlling stake in the company [Rosneft], it might not be the best course of action when one company under State control buys another one fully owned by the State. This is one point.” StatesFactsMightActionCoursesGivenCompanyBeing The BestStakes Author:Vladimir Putin
“Another point is that ultimately, as far as the budget is concerned, of major importance is who offers more money during the bidding that must be organized as a part of the privatization process. In this sense, we cannot discriminate against any market participants, not one of them, but this is not relevant at the moment, as the Government has decided to postpone the privatization of Bashneft.” MomentsGovernmentProcessOffersMajorsConcernedDecidedImportanceBudgetsOrganizedRelevantMore MoneyParticipantsBiddingPrivatization Author:Vladimir Putin
“There is no need for the Russian state to hold such large stakes and we do intend to put our plans into practice. It is not about whether we want it or not, it is about this being practical or not and the best timing. In general, it is practical from at least one point of view - from the point of view of structural changes in the economy.” WantNeedsStatesViewsPracticeEconomyPlansPoint Of ViewPracticalsStakesTiming Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is true that the role of the state in the Russian economy may be too big today, but from the fiscal standpoint, it is not always practical to do this in a falling market.” MayStatesBigsTodayFallRolesEconomyPracticalsStandpointRussian Economy Author:Vladimir Putin
“Our trend in the privatization process and gradual withdrawal of the state from certain assets remains unchanged.” StatesCertainProcessRemainsAssetsTrendsWithdrawalPrivatization Author:Vladimir Putin
“We are actively preparing a partial privatization of Rosneft itself. It is the best proof that our major plans have remained unchanged. Another example would be one of the largest Russian diamond mining companies in the world. We are privatizing part of our stake in that as well.” WorldWellsWould BeCompanyPlansExampleMajorsProofStakesDiamondPreparingMiningPrivatization Author:Vladimir Putin
