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The meeting took place in anticipation of the 75^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Luxembourg.

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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Prime Minister, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you in Sochi, at a state summer residence.

Apart from the fact that this is a scheduled meeting, I would like to highlight another reason: the day after tomorrow we will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries, so this meeting has a certain symbolic meaning.

I am very glad that we are having this meeting today, and I am confident that our relations, which have been developing dynamically until now, will continue to evolve in the same way. You give these relations a great deal of your attention, which we value very highly.

You have now arrived with a delegation whose members have their own partners in Russia. Together we will review our bilateral economic relations, and discuss humanitarian issues and the situation in Europe, which has considerable importance for us, too.

Once again, Mr Prime Minister, I am very happy to welcome you.

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker (retranslated): Mr President, we are honoured to be your guests today here in Sochi.

This city stimulates the imagination and makes dreamers out of those of us who arrive from more temperate climes — I'm talking about us, in particular.

We arrived in Sochi on your invitation to discuss subjects of interest to us: economic and financial cooperation, the bilateral relations between Russia and Luxembourg, and the bilateral relations between Russia and the European Union.

For us, this visit is a great honour because it is taking place at a truly historic moment: the day after tomorrow marks 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. In fact, we should have timed this visit for the day after tomorrow.

The history of relations between our countries is not complicated, although it could have been. However, from the beginning of official relations between our countries, regardless of the historical periods that we have traversed, we have never encountered insurmountable contradictions or irreconcilable conflicts. The simplicity and openness of our relationship have become even more consolidated in the past 20 years.

I am very pleased that the Russian leadership welcomes a delegation from Luxembourg with such friendliness and openness. We have had a princely reception here today, and we feel very comfortable but already sad because we will have to leave.

Thank you very much. I am confident that we will have constructive negotiations.

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