New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras visited Russia this week where he met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (Eurokinissi)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and leader of the ruling United Russia party received New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras in Moscow on Thursday, with talks between the two men  focusing on improving Greek-Russian relations and boosting bilateral cooperation.

 

"My meeting with the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, took place in a very good climate and was exhaustive on all issues", Samaras told reporters afterwards.

 

"I outlined the situation to Mr Putin, as is being shaped in Greece today, and the prospects that exist. He showed particular interest and a mood to assist our country. We also spoke of the problems in Greek-Russian relations and we examined ways to overcome them. We agreed to remain in contact. Greece needs all its friends today and Russia can prove to be a valuable friend," Samaras added.

 

When the Russian prime minister met with Samaras, he described his own party, United Russia, was a "brother" party of New Democracy.

 

During the meeting, a spokesman said, the current situation was discussed, as well as prospects for the greater development of bilateral relations, with emphasis on economic cooperation even in diverse sectors, while the two leaders also exchanged views, in detail, regarding the crisis in the eurozone.

 

Putin expressed a strong interest in developments in Greece and their economic dimension, as well as in relations between Greece and Russia in recent times.

 

Talks also touched on energy cooperation and Russian interest in privatisation tenders, particularly in major infrastructures projects, such as ports, airports and possibly railways.

 

Putin placed particular emphasis on the issue of the construction of the southern portion of the South Stream natural gas pipeline, the construction of which is being accelerated and will start before the end of 2012, instead of the spring of 2013.

 

Putin reiterated that Moscow desires that all serious decisions (quantities, pipeline course) will be taken by the project's partner countries, such as Greece, by that time.

 

The issue was also discussed earlier in the day between Samaras and Gazprom president Alexei Miller.

 

One Gazprom proposal apparently cited the construction of a power production unit in Greece, whose surplus electric power would be exported to Italy.

 

During the Putin-Samaras meeting, in which Yuri Ushakov, the deputy director of the Russian prime minister's office also participated, the bedeviled Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline project was discussed.

 

The latter project is now frozen due to the withdrawl of support by the Bulgarian government, although Russian interest remains, reports stated.

 

The Greek side reportedly raised the issue of easier access of Greek farm products into the Russian market, a growing market for Greek exports, as well as overcoming the obstacles faced by Russian tourists in seeking holiday visas. (AMNA/Athens News)