Official website of the President of Russia

Документ   /

Following the talks, the Political Declaration of Russia and Greece was adopted.

The following documents were signed in the presence of the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of Greece: a Joint Declaration of the Government of Russia and the Government of Greece on Partnership for Modernisation; a Memorandum of Understanding on Inter-regional Cooperation Between the Russian Economic Development Ministry and the Greek Foreign Ministry; and a Roadmap on Broadening Russian-Greek Cooperation in Agriculture.

The relevant agencies signed a Joint Action Programme in Tourism for 2016–2018, memoranda of understanding on cooperation in standardisation, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, investment and trade. An Agreement on the Main Parameters of Oil and Petroleum Products Supply and a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Ural Federal University and the University of Piraeus regarding BRICS projects were signed as well.

Following the talks, Vladimir Putin and Alexis Tsipras held a joint press conference.

***

Beginning of conversation with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras (retranslated): Mr President, welcome to Greece.

Your visit is part of the reciprocal Year of culture between Russia and Greece, which affirms the high level of our bilateral relations and our mutual desire to bolster cooperation.

The past year has been a demonstration of that, particularly my visits to Moscow and St Petersburg, where we had an opportunity to meet and exchange views on ways to further strengthen our cooperation.

I would like to reiterate that our strategic choice is to strengthen ties with Russia, since our nations have historically close religious and spiritual bonds, and also because we have opportunities opening up in the future to build up our economic partnership, as well as to improve stability in the world and the region.

You came to our country at a special moment when we are turning the page. The uncertainty is about to end, and we are looking to the future with great optimism.

We will soon start the reorganisation of our production facilities, and the economy will return to growth. We believe that it is also important for strengthening ties between our countries. They will now develop in a more stable and promising environment.

Once again, I would like to welcome you to Greece, and say that the brotherly and friendly feelings that the Greek people have for the Russian people encourage us to further strengthen our cooperation in the best and most effective ways.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, first of all, thank you for your invitation.

We are continuing a series of meetings and consultations at the highest level as part of the Russia-Greece Year of Culture.

You and I discussed our prospects in the trade and economic sphere in Moscow and St Petersburg. Indeed, we are faced with many challenges, and the times are difficult, but the prospects are definitely there.

We must, of course, translate the exceptionally good mutual relations and mutual feelings of the two peoples into economic growth and cooperation – not only in the energy sector, but also high-technology industries and infrastructure. These, of course, should be mutual investments.

I hope that today we will talk about all of this.

Thank you for your warm welcome.

<…>