Transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: Colleagues, journalists. I would like to say a few words about the results of the talks with Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša.

We have held fully-fledged talks on all issues. I would like to say right away that the talks were quite successful. Indeed, they were permeated with a spirit of partnership and a desire to expand our bilateral ties. The talks were marked by trust, which is a traditional feature of our relationship. Of course, we focused on trade and economic and investment cooperation. This sphere has, on the whole, been developing over the past few years. I cannot say that we are able to boast of any breakthrough, except in the energy sector, which has now become a leading area of our cooperation. We still have to work actively in other areas. Nevertheless, I would like to say that our bilateral trade turnover soared by over 20% last year, and by the same amount in January-August 2012.

We have agreed to continue our high-tech cooperation, which is very important for our countries. This cooperation encompasses such areas as communications systems and information technology. We discussed energy efficiency and the pharmaceuticals industry. By the way, I would like to mention the involvement of Slovenian companies in the creation of a telecommunications infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. This is an interesting aspect of our cooperation.

Of course, our energy cooperation in the context of building the South Stream gas pipeline is a separate and highly important issue. We are moving ahead combining our efforts, and today we have taken note of Slovenia’s special constructive role in this process. We have adopted the final investment decision on the Slovenian section, and we have charted the main organisational parameters of this project. I am confident that the implementation of this project meets our common interests. This is a good symbol and a good sign for many. By the way, it is good that such large-scale projects as the South Stream are accompanied by attendant but very important … My colleague and I have just exchanged opinions that a project involving Gazprom and Comita d. d. is an example of this neighbourly cooperation.

Naturally, we did not overlook the cultural sphere, which we consider to be important. Our people are linked by a long-time friendship, historical memory and cultural similarity. As a result, we have agreed to support this aspect in every possible way, including cooperation within the format of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, and to act in line with the relevant inter-governmental programme.

On the whole, the talks went off well. I would like to thank my counterpart for coming to the Russian Federation and for the results of our talks.

Janez Janša: (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured and pleased to report that we have crowned this visit of the government economic delegation with a bilateral meeting of prime ministers.

As has been mentioned, the economic cooperation between our two countries is the mainstay of our relations. That said, our relationship is not limited to the economy. I will not relist the areas that Mr Medvedev mentioned. But I would like to say that over the last 20 years Slovenian-Russian relations have developed from bilateral cooperation to a strategic partnership.

Cultural cooperation, in particular through the Forum of Slavic Cultures, as well as the annual meetings and the ceremony at the Vršič Pass, are illustrative of our progress in bilateral relations.

An economic delegation is part of my visit. Today Slovenian and Russian business experts held meetings that show that we have many opportunities to work together for our mutual benefit.

I told Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian entrepreneurs today, and President Vladimir Putin yesterday, that Slovenia is taking a wide range of measures to promote an economic upsurge.

We are doing everything we can to create the most favourable environment for economic activity and the flow of foreign investment. We need foreign investment and are working to attract it. We believe foreign capital should be part of Slovenia’s economy, and we have a very positive record of Russian investment.

In late November, Slovenia will host the regular, ninth meeting of the intergovernmental Slovenian-Russian commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. Thus, the commission will continue reviewing the issues that we have started discussing during these talks.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia I welcome the signing of the two documents on the South Stream project. This event is symbolic both for the Russian Prime Minister and for me because in parallel with the construction of this energy main, an information and communications line will be laid. This says something important about our bilateral cooperation: that we will cooperate not only on energy but also on information and communications technology.

As a member of the European Union, Slovenia appreciates strategic partnership between the European Union and Russia. And as part of this partnership, we support all kinds of cooperation, from economic to cultural. We also value Russia’s role in resolving international conflicts.

I want to express my thanks to Mr Medvedev on behalf of our delegation for the talks, as well as our congratulations on Russia’s recent entry into the WTO. This is a vital step that will strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Russia.

Thank you, Mr Prime Minister.

Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.