Vladimir Putin: Ladies and gentlemen,

Today we had a thorough and very useful conversation. We discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Obviously, both sides are committed to intensifying Russian-Libyan relations, in the first place in the trade and economic sphere. The prerequisites for our work are very good. I am referring to the long tradition of mutually-beneficial cooperation. The political dialogue between our countries has become stable lately.

During my talks in Tripoli with the Libyan Leader Mr Muammar Kaddafi in April ten bilateral documents were signed. All that opened up good opportunities for implementing major business projects in the field of railway transport and other infrastructure, in the field of oil and gas. Russian Railways has been awarded a $2.2 billion contract. Gazprom and Tatneft are working actively. Other major Russian companies are exhibiting an interest in working in the Libyan market.

Today we also agreed to continue work in the format of the High Level Committee of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries headed by Russia.

We believe it is necessary to invigorate the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. In this context we have agreed to speed up the preparations for the 6th meeting of the commission.

We intend to continue interaction in the military-technical sphere, all the more so because the Libyan leadership has confirmed its interest in acquiring quality products of the Russian defence industry.

The talks have also confirmed that Russia and Libya have similar positions on key regional and international problems. It enables us to coordinate actions in the international arena, including at the UN Security Council where Libya will be represented this year and in the following years.

I must express my gratitude for the decision taken by the Leader of the Libyan Revolution Mr Muammar Kaddafi regarding the fate of our compatriot, Mr Tsygankov, an employee of the LUKoil company. His release is good news for us. It is undoubtedly a sign of the Libyan leader's friendly disposition towards Russia.

For our part we are ready to render all the necessary assistance to the work of the Libyan security and law enforcement agencies.

In conclusion I would like to thank our guests for the constructive work on promoting our cooperation. I am sure that Mr Prime Minister's visit to Russia will give a good impetus to the development of this interaction.

Thank you.

Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi: We were very glad to meet a friend of the Leader of the Libyan Revolution, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Putin. We are very pleased with the progress in the development of Russian-Libyan cooperation and partnership in various areas over the past several months. Historically, we have of course a good headstart in our cooperation. However, it is now necessary to conduct negotiations and discussions on the prospects of broadening the sphere of our cooperation and elevating it to a qualitatively new level.

As my friend the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has just said, the future of our cooperation lies in the oil and gas sector, as well as the implementation of major infrastructure projects in Libya by Russian companies. A major contract is underway to build a railway, and we hope that in future there will be other big contracts in various spheres of infrastructure development.

We will cooperate in the investment sphere. Libya seeks to increase its investments in Russia. We intend to make large-scale investments in the Russian economy in diverse fields.

We have also discussed the possibility developing cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We have agreed on the format of our work in this area for the next several months. We will continue to expand our cooperation. Libya is currently working on a project of building a nuclear plant to generate energy and to desalinize seawater.

We have also conveyed a message from the Leader of the Libyan Revolution Mr Muammar Kaddafi to our dear friend and his personal friend, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin that we are ready and willing to develop cooperation in the military-technical field. We have reached an agreement on the concrete formats of the work to strengthen the Libyan Armed Forces in the framework of Russian-Libyan military-technical cooperation.

We have also discussed some international problems, specifically the situation in Africa and in Darfur, Sudan. Unfortunately, violence, disturbances and chaos continue there. We expect that we will coordinate our work either in the Security Council or on a bilateral basis to resolve that important and very painful problem.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the members of the delegation I would like to thank Mr Prime Minister for the kind and hospitable reception in Moscow. I would like once again to express the hope that Russian-Libyan cooperation will develop at an encouraging pace.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.