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The Russian President’s visit to Poland should give new impetus to developing Russian-Polish relations, Mr Medvedev said at a joint news conference with the Polish President. Mr Medvedev said that both countries seek pragmatic and mutually advantageous cooperation in all different areas, and that he hopes the talks will lead to intensification in interregional ties.

The Katyn issue was an important subject on the agenda at the talks. Russia has taken unprecedented steps recently to clear up ambiguity in its assessment of historical events, in particular, handing over part of the archival documents on the Katyn case to Poland. Mr Medvedev declared that this cooperation will continue and said he is certain this will help to clear up all of the difficulties in the two countries’ relations.

Concerning the investigation into the plane crash near Smolensk, the Russian President said that the political leadership and the heads of the investigative agencies will do everything possible to get objective evidence and conduct a complete and thorough investigation. The two countries’ presidents will oversee this work.

Mr Medvedev and Mr Komorowski also discussed European security issues and opportunities for Russia’s cooperation with the EU and NATO. The two leaders agreed to personally supervise humanitarian cooperation, in particular stepping up youth exchanges.

The two presidents oversaw the signing of several agreements, including a declaration on cooperation in economic modernisation, intergovernmental agreements on sea transport and cooperation in protecting the Baltic Sea from pollution by oil and other harmful substances, and a protocol of intent on establishing centres for dialogue and harmony in Russia and Poland. Cooperation agreements on postal and electronic communications were also signed, as well as agreements on cooperation between the two countries’ prosecutor generals’ offices, and on intensifying youth exchanges.

Later in the day Dmitry Medvedev met with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk.

The Russian President also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Warsaw's Pilsudki Square.