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The parties discussed the prospects for the development of Russian-Chadian relations, as well as issues on the regional and international agenda.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends.

I am delighted to see you in Moscow, here at the Kremlin. This year, we mark the 60^th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. The ties between our countries have been growing all these past years, especially intensively in recent years. I would like to point out that contacts are ongoing between our foreign ministries and parliaments.

Representatives of Chad took part in the last Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg. A substantial package of documents is being prepared, with a view to strengthening and expanding our legal framework. I hope that our colleagues will complete this work in the near future.

Mr President, we are also closely monitoring the situation in your country. And you know that we have been following with great concern the fight against terrorist forays in Chad, and what happened to your father. We grieve with you. I would like to extend my condolences to you once again.

Nevertheless, we are pleased that you have been able to hold a referendum on the Constitution. I am confident that general elections will be held in the near future, and will be well organised. We are happy that you have achieved stability in your country. We will do our best to facilitate this.

We have great opportunities to expand our bilateral ties. We are trying to provide support to your country at the UN, including humanitarian support, as you know. We intend to continue to do so.

Our humanitarian ties are also growing. We have doubled the quota for students from Chad to study in the Russian Federation with government grants, and we are ready to double it again in the next two years. As we have seen, interest [in Russian education] is growing among your young people. And we will be happy to cooperate in all these areas.

We are delighted to see you in Moscow. Welcome, Mr President.

Transitional President of the Republic of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby (retranslated): Thank you, Mr President.

Dear friends, first, I would like to express my gratitude to God who has allowed me to pay this visit to Russia. I would also like to express gratitude for your invitation to come here. On behalf of the delegation accompanying me, I would like to thank the people of Russia for the reception accorded us following our arrival in Moscow.

This is a history-making visit. Chad and Russia maintain long-time relations. The last time the President of the state of Chad, Mr Francois, visited this country was in 1968. We hope that this visit will allow us to enhance our bilateral relations and to strengthen our relations in all spheres.

I have heard about the airplane crash, and I would like to offer my condolences in connection with the death of Russian soldiers on my own behalf and on behalf of our people.

I have come from a friendly and fraternal country, a sovereign country that would like to enhance its relations with this friendly country.

I would like once again to thank you for the invitation. I hope, and our people hope that we will actively work together after this historic visit. There are exchanges, and we will continue to develop them for the benefit of the entire nation.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Mr President, I suggest that we organise our work in the following manner. We will allow our colleagues to speak, and then we can sum up certain results of our extended talks. After that, I would like to invite you for a working lunch where you and I can discuss issues of bilateral relations and international issues face to face.

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