Meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway
Transcript:
Dmitry Medvedev: My colleague Jens Stoltenberg and I have discussed key issues in our relations and came to the conclusion that they have been progressing very well in the past years. The proof lies not only in the growth of trade cooperation and large investment projects but also in signing new important documents. At present new agreements appear in the area of energy, on joint extraction of natural resources. We have discussed further cooperation on the Declaration of Partnership for Modernisation. We have all this on our agenda. We agreed to meet regularly not just on environmental issues but also to discuss the whole range of our relations. My colleague thinks that this is an instance of exemplary and very positive cooperation between two nations, and I certainly agree with him.
Jens Stoltenberg (via interpreter): I was very happy to meet with my good friend, my good colleague. I have been collaborating with Prime Minister Medvedev for a number of years. We have achieved a great deal in our relations in such areas as energy and fishing. Our fishing quotas and joint catch are at the highest level historically. This is due to a sustainable management of fishing resources. Currently we catch six times more fish that we did a few years ago.
We have managed to agree on a document which eases visa-free travel between the two countries for border region residents. The border used to be practically half-closed, and now it is open. A bridge has been built there, which is indicative of the cooperation with Russia we are pursuing and would like to pursue in the future.
In June we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Barents Cooperation, which is a formal framework for many of the projects being implemented in Norway and in Russia. This is an example of successful cooperation in the North.
I am confident that by celebrating the anniversary we will be able to further our relations. Thank you.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.
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Meeting with Prime Minister of Finland Jyrki Katainen
Transcript:
Dmitry Medvedev: Esteemed colleague, Mr. Prime Minister! I am glad to see you again. Thank you for coming to St Petersburg to participate in our event – the Baltic Sea Forum. This is of course our common duty, but it is also a good opportunity to review the fundamental aspects of Russian-Finnish relations. I believe that they are developing quite well. We have been involved in intense interaction, and we have a large volume of trade, as well as interesting investment and innovative projects. Today at breakfast, I fondly recalled when we visited an innovation park in Finland. So, all in all, everything is going well. I propose that we compare notes on the primary aspects of our bilateral relations.
Jyrki Katainen (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister! Thank you very much for organising this event today. It is an immense pleasure for us that the Baltic Sea Action Summit, which was held in Helsinki, has received further development. I am very pleased to see that you are personally involved in issues related to the preservation of the Baltic Sea marine environment and in elaborating the specific methods and tools that we can use to improve its condition.
I am always pleased to be in St Petersburg – perhaps the most beautiful city in Europe.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.
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Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also met with Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, and Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.