Official website of the President of Russia

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Dear Mr President, please allow me to warmly welcome you to Moscow.

Relations between our countries are traditionally friendly. And, indeed, they are relations with a strategic nature. They have a long history. But we have always tried to develop relations between Russia and Egypt in such a way that benefits of our peoples.

In recent years, thanks to your efforts, Mr President, we have done a great deal in order to not only restore our previous level of cooperation, but also to make significant steps forward. We cooperate increasingly in the economic spheres; we are constantly engaged in political dialogue. Egypt is certainly one of the prevailing leaders of the Arab world, the Islamic world, and in this regard our joint actions in the international arena take on a particular importance. I am absolutely confident that, following the election of the new President of the Russian Federation and after the new President assumes leadership, Russia's policy of developing relations between our countries, a policy which we developed together over the years, will continue. I guarantee that such a scenario is not simply the political taste of any one leader, but rather in the underlying interests of our people.

Welcome!

President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak: I would like to thank President Putin. We have already met several times. The level of cooperation between our two countries is traditionally close, but it was precisely during your presidency that progress has been made.

I am very pleased by the fact that under your leadership, Mr President, Russia is steadily evolving and once again assuming the positions that it previously held.

I am very pleased with the level of cooperation that we instituted, Mr President, and I very much hope that we will enjoy the same with your successor.

About an hour ago I met with Mr Medvedev and even joked that you differ little from one another. You even look a little bit alike, and when I went to a meeting with Mr Medvedev in the Kremlin and, at the same time, saw you on television then I was at a loss to say who was who. And I want to emphasize my belief once again that the interaction and cooperation between Egypt and the Russian Federation will continue in the future.

Mr President, you have done a great deal to make sure this cooperation affects the widest possible range of industries.

Some time ago we sent you an invitation to the Economic Forum that will be held in May of this year in Sharm el-Sheikh. I will be very glad if you or your representative will be able to participate in this forum.

And again I want to stress that I am sincerely convinced that cooperation between our countries will continue to develop. Thank you very much, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much for inviting me, dear Mr President. I think that economic issues, social issues — and that is exactly the primary concern of the citizens of any country — will become part of my sphere of responsibility very soon. I hope that we can give additional impetus to the development of our economic ties.

As for the newly elected President, despite the fact that you see an external resemblance, he will undoubtedly have his own style. But since he has been head of the presidential administration, Deputy Prime Minister, a member of the Security Council, and one of the sponsors of Russian foreign policy, and in this sense is entirely familiar with the material, you will find it easy to work with him.

Hosni Mubarak: During my conversation with Mr Medvedev I realized that very quickly. And I again want to emphasize that I am sure that we will continue to cooperate.

Vladimir Putin: One of the areas in which we cooperate is energy. For a long time, Mr Medvedev represented the interests of the state in one of our leading companies, Gazprom, so there will not be any breaks or disturbances in that respect.

Hosni Mubarak: Thank you very much.