Vladimir Putin's opening remarks:
Good afternoon, dear friends,
Today marks the opening of the major International Air Show MAKS-2009. All of us, I am sure, should be in a festive mood, because today is an important day for all those who love aviation, for all those who love the skies. However, our event has to begin on a sad, tragic note, because the commander of our famous aerobatic team and undoubtedly one of Russia's best pilots, Colonel Igor Tkachenko, died tragically the day before yesterday, on Sunday.
This tragedy is reminder that even today, even in this day and age, when mankind, it seems, can do anything, the sky remains the calling of the courageous, the brave and the bold. People who spare nothing, even their lives, for the sake of the profession they love.
I ask you to observe a minute of silence in memory of Igor Tkachenko.
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As we all know, life does not stand still. MAKS-2009 will feature the results of the work of hundreds of people, huge teams of workers from this country and our partner countries: 34 countries, more than 700 firms, and more than 700 companies. Of course Russian producers will try to show the serious potential of the domestic aviation industry and space industry, as well as the brilliant projects that are conceived in Russian design offices and are "made metal" by our enterprises.
MAKS-2009 features a whole range of modern civilian and military aircraft, as well as examples of space and other technology. This includes the Sukhoi Super Jet, the Il-96-400 transport plane, the multi-purpose "generation four plus" fighter plane, and new systems for the exploration of the near-Earth space.
I am confident that they will be in demand and will win out in the course of fair competition to find buyers.
"The development of aircraft building and space exploration is an undoubted priority for us today. This is because we associate our plans for diversification of the economy and building up its high-technology sector with the development of the space industry and aviation."
I can say that since 2004, the amount of government financing has increased by 20 times. This year, we have allocated another 80 billion roubles for the purpose. The money was used to buy Russian-made planes and retrofit our commercial plants.
We stand committed to allocating serious investments and serious resources for aviation building and the space industry, and forming truly competitive companies and enterprises that can win a niche in the market and generate and attract resources for modernization and retrofitting.
In developing our own aerospace industry, we are ready for broad cooperation with our partners. The fact that so many guests and participants have come to MAKS-2009 and that it has gained such international recognition is added proof that joint projects with Russia make for lucrative and promising business.
I am sure that interesting contracts and broader business connections await the participants and that the meetings in the Moscow area will bring new opportunities for many of the participants. And, of course, I wish all the best to the participants in MAKS-2009 and to its visitors.
I congratulate you on the opening of the show. I wish you all the best. Thank you for your attention.
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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin watched the performance of the Russian, Italian, and French aerobatic teams.
About 80 aircraft took part in the MAKS-2009 Air Show.