NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor after the meeting with Russian President Medvedev at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today paid a visit to the Russian Federation where he attended the XIV. St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the chair of the SPIEF Organising Committee, Minister for Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Elvira Nabiullina. On this occasion the Slovenian Prime Minister also had a one-to-one meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitrij Medvedev, with whom he mainly discussed economic cooperation between Slovenia and the Russian Federation and the relations between Russia and the European Union.
The Economic Forum attended by many European and international politicians and business people, among them also the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, as well as by numerous ministers and governors of banks, was opened by the Minister for Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Elvira Nabiullina, who highlighted in particular the importance of the shifting of economy toward new dynamic economies and new approaches in the economy focusing on green economy and innovations. The speaker of honour at the opening of the Forum was the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitrij Medvedev, who stated in his introductory address that he was pleased with this year's news that most economies were recovering and that this created a positive atmosphere after the global economic crisis. He stressed that modernisation is essential for the economy and at the same time the key approach on the path to recovery. In this context, he also mentioned Russia which is heading towards these changes like the rest of the world that has changed in comparison to the world 5 years ago. President Medvedev also emphasized that adaptation was necessary since we would never return to past economic operating models.
In St. Petersburg, Prime Minister Pahor also had a one-to-one meeting with the President of the Russian Federation, Dimitrij Medvedev, with whom he mainly discussed economic cooperation between Slovenia and Russia and relations between Russia and the European Union. The main topic of discussion was the integration of some major economic actors from Slovenia into the modernisation of Russia headed by President Medvedev. "We submitted the Slovenian proposal prepared by the Slovenian-Russian Business Forum", said Prime Minister Pahor. The Russian President welcomed the very ambitious and well prepared economic development vision. After the meeting with President Medvedev, the Slovenian Prime Minister said that "we will make every effort to enhance economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Slovenia that has been growing for the last two years, and to provide conditions for business people from both sides to cooperate as best as possible. And today's Forum is the right opportunity for this kind of cooperation and development of trust at the highest level." Mr Pahor went on to say that our ambition was also to have an open economy providing for greater independence, which, however, requires primarily our political friendships.
On the margins of the meeting, the Slovenian Prime Minister met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov who commended the resolution of the border issue between Slovenia and Croatia. Prime Minister Pahor also had talks with the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik. The two Prime Ministers discussed the conditions in the Western Balkans and economic cooperation between Slovenia and Republika Srpska in the light of a more active role taken by Slovenia on the Western Balkan markets. On the margins of the Forum, Prime Minister Pahor also met the Governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvijenko, whom he invited to visit Slovenia to attend the annual memorial ceremony at the Russian Chapel, today considered to be a symbol of friendship between the two countries. The Slovenian Prime Minister also arranged a meeting with the representatives from Gazprom.
The meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, and his Russian counterparts was an excellent opportunity for the continuation of the dialogue between the governments of the two countries that started at the meeting on 1 September 2009 on the margins of the commemoration in Gdansk and continued during President Pahor's working visit to Moscow on 14 November 2009. Today's visit was also an opportunity to exchange views on the recent EU-Russian Federation Summit that took place from 31 May to 1 June 2010 in Rostov-on-Don. The visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia in the Russian Federation was important not only for the enhancement of political dialogue between the Republic of Slovenia and the Russian Federation but also for the promotion of cooperation in the economic and other areas. "It is essential for Slovenia to have friendly ties beyond its border and we are making every effort to build and strengthen these ties," said Prime Minister Pahor before his departure to Slovenia.