On the eve of his visit to Italy, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to the newspaper “Il Corriere della Sera”. is reported by Tass. We offer readers the news agency “Amitel” to read it .
– Good evening, Mr President! We would like to
First of all thank you for what you have given us this
a very important opportunity – today to interview you.
– I’m very happy about it.
– My name is Luciano Fontana, I have a new director of Il Corriere
della Sera, and with me my colleague Paolo Valentino, who for a long time
He worked in Russia, and he even married a Russian woman.
– You are the new director?
– Yes, just one month.
– I congratulate on his appointment.
– Thank you very much. I would like to start with a question that will be
As for the Russian-Italian relations. With Italy, Russia always
were very rich and privileged relations in the economy, so
and in politics. However, the Ukrainian crisis has to some extent overshadowed the
situation and penalties. Here the visit, which caused Mr.
Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Renzi , and your next visit to Milan may be to somehow change this trend and on what terms?
– First, I’m not
Russia is guilty of the fact that our relations between the Russian Federation and
EU countries deteriorated. It is not our choice, we have imposed it our
Partners do not we have introduced some restrictions on trade, economic,
activity – is entered against us, and we had to take
retaliatory safeguard measures.
But the relations between Russia and Italy have always been really
and the privileged nature of politics and the economy. We, here
See, in previous years, for the previous few years, the volume
turnover increased by 11 times: from 4.2, in my opinion, a billion dollars (we
Dollars believe) to 48-plus, nearly 49 billion dollars.
In Russia there are 400 Italian companies. We are working in the energy sector
very active, and in a variety of industries. Italy is
third largest buyer of our energy. But we are working and
high-tech sectors, both in space and in aircraft, in many
other industries. Suffice it to actively cooperate with each other regions
Russia and Italy. Our tourists, almost one million people, about 900,000
people arrived in Italy last year, more than a billion euros they are there
left.
We have always been trusting contacts in the political sphere.
After all, Italy, while the prime minister was Mr. Berlusconi made
initiated the creation of the Russia-NATO Council. At the initiative of Italy was created
a consultative body working, which, of course, become so
prominent factor in ensuring security in Europe. In this sense
Italy and do make is always very significant contribution to the development of dialogue
between Russia and Europe, and even NATO as a whole, I’m not talking about our
special relations in the field of culture, in the humanitarian sphere.
All of this creates, of course, such basic, the special relationship between
Russia and Italy. In this regard, the visit of the Prime Minister
Russia is a very important signal of the willingness of Italy to the development of relations.
And, of course, it does not go unnoticed in Russia – and not only in
Government of the Russian Federation, but also among the public.
Of course, we are ready to respond in kind, and be ready to go in the development of
our relationship as much as it will be ready for our
Italian partners. I hope that my upcoming trip to Milan
also will serve just this purpose.
– I would like to satisfy their curiosity and ask
you, to ask you one more question about Italy. You communicate with different
Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi, Silvio
Berlusconi, with Massimo Dal, with Matteo Renzi. Which of these leaders you
We find more understanding and how you feel, how much personal relations
still affect the overall state of relations between the two countries – for example,
such as you had with Mr. Silvio Berlusconi?
– Whatever positions we undertake, wherever we
worked, we are people first and foremost, and trust between people, of course, very
an important factor in the work, in building relationships in the state
level.
But, as I said, one of those people whom you mentioned, “You,
probably the only “- I’m the only one -” who maintains friendly
relations with Berlusconi and Prodi. “And I’ll tell you – it was not difficult, and
Now it is easy to me – why. Because, first of all, all of my
Italian partners guided by the interests of the Italian interests
Italian people and believed that in order to properly
ensure the interests of Italy, the Italian economy, Italian politics,
you need to maintain good relations with Russia. And we understand that,
feeling.
That was the most important among what was at the heart of our
good relations, I always felt really sincere desire
construct relations between states, regardless of
domestic political situation. I want to tell you in this regard that we
Russia’s got the attitude towards Italy, which has too
all-party character.
– Vladimir Vladimirovich, you arrive in Milan on the occasion
the Day of Russia at the World Exhibition “EXPO”. Theme Exhibition
“EXPO”: “Food – for the planet, energy – for life.” What is a
contribution to the struggle on the part of Russia? And how important is this fight
for relations between states?
– It is now probably one of the key issues,
facing humanity. So just can and should be
stated that the organizers of this exhibition in Italy, of course,
We choose one of the key themes.
The population of the world is growing: according to expert estimates, in 2050 will reach 9 billion people. And today, on the same data,
According to the UN, 850 million people on the planet undernourished,
actually starving, 100 million of them – the children. Therefore, it is one of
the key issues of our time, without a doubt.
The way it will be solved, will depend on many other issues,
which, at first glance, this problem does not relate – bearing in mind the
instability, political instability of entire regions of the world,
terrorist activities and so on, it’s all connected.
Wave illegal migrants ,
that is sweeping Italy and throughout Europe today, it is also with this
connected. I repeat, I think the organizers have done an absolutely
correctly point out that the solution to this issue.
As for the contribution of Russia, we at the United Nations Programme for this purpose
direct more than $ 200 million. Many countries of the world to these
programs using Russian resources, receive the necessary support
and assistance.
We pay much attention to the development of agriculture in our country. Despite all the difficulties of today in the development of Russia’s economy the agricultural sector, agricultural sector, increasing our accelerated
pace in the past year about 3.4-3.5 percent growth. In the first
quarter of this year, growth has remained about the same: more than 3 percent
- 3.4 per cent. Russia ranked third in the world in exports
cereal. Last year, we collected a record, one of the largest of
Recently, the grain harvest – 105.3 million tons. Finally,
Russia’s potential in this sense simply enormous. I think that we
the largest arable land in the world and the largest reserves of fresh water, having
mean that Russia – the largest country in the world by area.
– Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich. You said it was not
our choice, when we talked about that shadow that has been cast on
relationships, and walked an opinion stating that the Russian
He feels betrayed, abandoned by Europe as a mistress
throws lover. What’s wrong in this relationship? Do you think,
Ukrainian crisis that Europe is too dependent on the United
States? And what do you expect from Europe on sanctions? Maybe I
too many issues at once asked.
– really a lot, with Italian specificity. (Laughter.)
As for the mistress first. If you have such a relationship with a woman,
that is, you do not assume any obligations, you do not have
the right to demand from your partner or your partner some
obligations in respect of you.
We never belonged to Europe as a mistress. I’m talking
absolutely seriously. We have always offered a serious relationship. And I
Now the impression that Europe is just trying to build with us
relations on the basis of material, and only in their favor.
Here and the famous “third energy package”, and the non-admission of our
goods in the field of nuclear energy to the European market, despite the
all agreements. There reluctance to recognize the legitimacy of our actions and
unwillingness to cooperate with the integration associations in the post
space, I mean the Customs Union, which we have created and
which is now turned into a Eurasian Economic Union . Because when the Europe are integrated, that’s fine, but if we are in the post-
We are doing the same thing – trying to explain Russia’s desire to
recreating some of the empire. Why such approaches do not understand.
Look, we’re a long time, and I personally talked about the need to create a single economic space from Lisbon to Vladivostok. In fact, something like a long time ago before I said the French President de Gaulle.
Today, against this there is no objection, they all say: yes, it is necessary to
this endeavor. But what happens in practice? Here Baltic
the country joined the European Union, well, thank God, and well. But
Now we are told that these countries, as they were in energy
system of the former Soviet Union and the Russian energy system, they should
Go to the EU energy system. We ask: “Are there any
problems with the power supply or that happening, why it is needed
do? “-” No, no problem, but that’s how we decided it would be better “.
What does this mean for us in practice? It means that we will have
build in some western regions of Russia more
generating capacity. Since the power line went through
Baltic countries in some regions of Russia, and vice versa, and all
will now change to Europe, we will have to build
more that do not exist today in our power lines,
to ensure power transmission. All this will cost us
somewhere 2-2.5 billion euros.
Now an association agreement with Ukraine .
From Ukraine does not need to become part of the European energy system, but it
It is seen as an opportunity. If that happens, then we have
will be spent for the same purpose is not 2-2.5 billion, and in some cases, may
be 8.10 billion euros. The question is why, if we consider that
the right to build a common economic space from Vladivostok to
Lisbon? The Eastern Partnership of the European Union – it pursues what purpose: to integrate post-Soviet
space in the common space with Europe, I repeat for the third time, from the
Lisbon to Vladivostok, or something to cut and create a new border
between today’s Russia and the entire western part, including, for example,
today and Ukraine, Moldova?
I’m going to tell you more, but you get there themselves decide what to print, which is not
print. It emerged from the crisis over Ukraine? The reason seemed
I would be completely disproportionate to what we have today in the form
absolute tragedy of enormous loss of life in the south-east of Ukraine .
Around the dispute which has arisen: former President Yanukovych said that he should think about signing association agreement Ukraine and the EU, and maybe make some changes and
Consultations with Russia as with its main trade and economic
partner. In this regard, or under this pretext, riots broke out in
Kiev. They were strongly supported by our partners and European and
American. Then the coup – are absolutely anti-constitutional actions.
The new authorities have declared that they sign a contract, but it lays
implementation until 1 January 2016. The question is why a coup
You do? What brought the matter before the Civil War? The result is the same.
In addition, we are at the end of 2013 we were ready to give Ukraine a loan
$ 15 billion on the state line, plus through the commercial
banks have $ 5 billion and $ 3 billion already given throughout the year, and two
once promised to lower gas prices if they pay regularly. AND
We are not opposed to the signing of an agreement by Ukraine with the European Union.
But, of course, we wanted to take part in the formulation of the final decision,
bearing in mind that Ukraine at the moment – both then and now, still
then – a member of the CIS free trade zone ,
and there we have mutual obligations. How could I not take this into
attention and without respect for this attitude? I was just in my head it’s not
comes. The result – a coup, civil war, hundreds of victims,
the collapse of the economy, the social sphere, the promise of Ukraine 17.5 billion
dollars for four years by the IMF and the complete disintegration of the economic
Relations with Russia. And the relationship we have with Ukraine in the economy is very
large.
This is the European Union to unilaterally nullify its duties
to Ukraine. Sales on the European market from the Ukrainian side does not
increased. Why is that? Sell nothing. There is nothing that would be
It demands for quality and price on the European market, except that
already sold before.
We have a market for Ukraine, but unilaterally lot
stopped by the Ukrainian side. For example, our helicopter gunships 100
interest received engines from Ukraine – supply discontinued. We have
We built a factory in St. Petersburg, this year will be second plant ,
and the production of these products in Ukraine will be completely phased out,
because either in Italy or France or Germany in such engines
It is not wanted and will not be needed. Something to translate into some other
the plane can not be, we need to invest billions.
Why is all done, I do not understand – I ask many of his, including European ones, colleagues, and American counterparts.
– And what did they say to you?
– The situation got out of control. You know what I want to say to you and
your readers. February 21 last year, an agreement was signed
between President Yanukovych and the opposition about how to live, how to
build the political life of the country, the need for
early elections. It was necessary to enforce this Agreement,
all the more so under this agreement as guarantors of compliance
signed the three Foreign Ministers of the European countries. If these
Our colleagues were used as extras, but in fact they did not
supervised situation, but actually in the field, as they say, the situation
led by Ambassador or a resident of the US CIA, then they had to say:
you know what, we did not agree about the coup and we support you
are not going to go to the polls.
The same goes for the American partners. Assume and
their situation got out of control. But if Americans and Europeans
We say to those who commit such unconstitutional actions: we will not
We will support, under any circumstances, if you so
You will come to power; go to the polls and win (and they
wide, by the way, had a chance to win, everybody knows about it) -
The situation would have developed very differently, very differently.
So I think that the reason for this crisis totally handmade,
and this is the result of unprofessional actions by our partner,
and support this process is absolutely unacceptable. I want to again
stress, it is absolutely not our choice, we did not aspire to this and
forced to simply react to what happens.
So finally, sorry for such a long monologue, I would
to say that we do not feel that we were lied to someone or something
properly dealt with us, it’s absolutely not the case. The fact that
relations should be based on long-term basis – not logic
confrontation, and guided by the philosophy of cooperation.
– You say that the situation got out of control. But
Is it not the time right now to Russia took the initiative in their hands,
that it somehow involved the American and European partners
Seeking a way out of this situation, I would make some gesture
willingness to address this issue?
– And we still do. I think that the document that we have agreed in
Minsk, it is called the “Minsk-2″, it is the right and maybe, in the
Today, the only way to the verified address this problem. AND
we never would have agreed to it if it had not considered it correct,
You know, it’s a fundamental thing.
What?
Russia
But
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