ID :
91785
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 16:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/91785
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Putin to discuss South Stream with France.
MOSCOW, November 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin and his French counterpart Francois Fillon will on Thursday discuss
France's participation in the South Stream project on the sidelines of the
14th session of the Russian-French Commission for bilateral cooperation.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is leaving for a two-day working
visit to France on Thursday.
Government representative Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Russian
Gazprom and L'Electricite De France would sign an agreement after the
Russian-French Commission for bilateral cooperation finishes its work.
Earlier, the Gazprom chief Alexei Miller predicted that an agreement
on the French company's joining the project might be signed in the near
future.
He said Gazprom was interested in developing long-term
mutually-beneficial cooperation with the EDF, a recognized leader in the
European energy market. This cooperation will be based on the South Stream
project, which is strategically important for increasing the reliability
and stability of gas supplies to Europe.
The South Stream gas pipeline is a joint project launched by Gazprom
and the Italian oil and gas concern ENI. In May 2009 the companies signed
the second supplement to the memorandum of understanding that provides for
raising the productivity of the maritime sector of the pipeline from 31
billion to 63 billion cubic metres a year and regulates gas marketing
issues within the project.
L'Electricite de France is Europe's leader in the production,
transportation, distribution and deliveries of electric energy and natural
gas. The EDF operates 19 nuclear power stations with 58 active power
units, thermal, wind and hydroelectric power stations as well as
transmission and distribution networks.
Putin will arrive in France late on Thursday and will have an informal
dinner with Fillon. On Friday morning he will meet the former French
president and his good friend Jacques Chirac. After that, the Russian
prime minister will head for the Rambouillet Castle near Paris, the venue
of the 14th session of the Russian-French Commission for bilateral
cooperation. Prior to that, the Russian and French premiers will meet
each other face to face.
Iran's nuclear program and the purchase of Mistral helicopter carriers
by Russia may be among the subjects for discussion. One Mistral helicopter
carrier has moored in St. Petersburg this week. According to government
representative Yuri Ushakov, the sum of a possible contract for buying the
Mistrals is estimated at 900 million euros. "Russia wants to buy these
vessels and launch their production at shipyards in Russia," Ushakov went
on to say.
Prime Minister Putin will also meet the captains of the Russian and
French business. They include Viktor Vekselberg, the owner of the Renova
Company, Vladimir Dmitriyev, the head of the Foreign Economic Bank (VEB),
Alexei Miller, the head of the board of directors of the Russian gas
company Gazprom, Sergei Chemezov, the head of the Rosstechnologiya
Company, Yevgeny Dod, the new chairman of the board of RusHydro, and
Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of the board of directors of the AFK
Sistema company.
About 25 various agreements are expected to be signed during Putin's
visit.
French Renault and Russian Avtovaz will sign a memorandum of
intentions on the main conditions of restructuring the Russian car maker.
Besides, an agreement on the labor activity of the citizens of one
country in the territory of the other county and a memorandum of mutual
understanding and exchange of information between the Federal Service for
Financial Markets and the French Agency for Financial Markets will be
signed.
Vladimir Putin will be accompanied by Vice-Premiers Igor Sechin and
Alexander Zhukov, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, the
Head of the Russian Transport Ministry Igor Levitin, Culture Minister
Alexander Avdeyev, the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science
Andrei Fursenko and the Minister of Communications Igor Shchegolev.
"Russia is interested in expanding economic cooperation with France,
increasing mutual trade turnover and the amount of investments in the
Russian economy," a Russian government source said.
"New leading French companies are arriving at the Russian market and
investing in long-term joint projects. Large-scale space and aircraft
building projects, including "Soyuz" at Kuru and "Superjet 100", are
implemented according to schedule," the government source went on to say.
Russia has about 470 enterprises with the French capital while
investments are rather diversified in various branches of industry. The
French oil group Total participates in the development of the
Kharyaginskoye oil deposit and the Schtokman gas condensate field; Renault
has a share in the capital of Avtovaz, Pigeout Citroen is building a car
assembly plant in the Kaluga region.
The joint Russian-French venture Alstom-Atomenergomash produces
low-speed turbines for nuclear power stations.
--0-fil/
Putin and his French counterpart Francois Fillon will on Thursday discuss
France's participation in the South Stream project on the sidelines of the
14th session of the Russian-French Commission for bilateral cooperation.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is leaving for a two-day working
visit to France on Thursday.
Government representative Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Russian
Gazprom and L'Electricite De France would sign an agreement after the
Russian-French Commission for bilateral cooperation finishes its work.
Earlier, the Gazprom chief Alexei Miller predicted that an agreement
on the French company's joining the project might be signed in the near
future.
He said Gazprom was interested in developing long-term
mutually-beneficial cooperation with the EDF, a recognized leader in the
European energy market. This cooperation will be based on the South Stream
project, which is strategically important for increasing the reliability
and stability of gas supplies to Europe.
The South Stream gas pipeline is a joint project launched by Gazprom
and the Italian oil and gas concern ENI. In May 2009 the companies signed
the second supplement to the memorandum of understanding that provides for
raising the productivity of the maritime sector of the pipeline from 31
billion to 63 billion cubic metres a year and regulates gas marketing
issues within the project.
L'Electricite de France is Europe's leader in the production,
transportation, distribution and deliveries of electric energy and natural
gas. The EDF operates 19 nuclear power stations with 58 active power
units, thermal, wind and hydroelectric power stations as well as
transmission and distribution networks.
Putin will arrive in France late on Thursday and will have an informal
dinner with Fillon. On Friday morning he will meet the former French
president and his good friend Jacques Chirac. After that, the Russian
prime minister will head for the Rambouillet Castle near Paris, the venue
of the 14th session of the Russian-French Commission for bilateral
cooperation. Prior to that, the Russian and French premiers will meet
each other face to face.
Iran's nuclear program and the purchase of Mistral helicopter carriers
by Russia may be among the subjects for discussion. One Mistral helicopter
carrier has moored in St. Petersburg this week. According to government
representative Yuri Ushakov, the sum of a possible contract for buying the
Mistrals is estimated at 900 million euros. "Russia wants to buy these
vessels and launch their production at shipyards in Russia," Ushakov went
on to say.
Prime Minister Putin will also meet the captains of the Russian and
French business. They include Viktor Vekselberg, the owner of the Renova
Company, Vladimir Dmitriyev, the head of the Foreign Economic Bank (VEB),
Alexei Miller, the head of the board of directors of the Russian gas
company Gazprom, Sergei Chemezov, the head of the Rosstechnologiya
Company, Yevgeny Dod, the new chairman of the board of RusHydro, and
Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of the board of directors of the AFK
Sistema company.
About 25 various agreements are expected to be signed during Putin's
visit.
French Renault and Russian Avtovaz will sign a memorandum of
intentions on the main conditions of restructuring the Russian car maker.
Besides, an agreement on the labor activity of the citizens of one
country in the territory of the other county and a memorandum of mutual
understanding and exchange of information between the Federal Service for
Financial Markets and the French Agency for Financial Markets will be
signed.
Vladimir Putin will be accompanied by Vice-Premiers Igor Sechin and
Alexander Zhukov, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, the
Head of the Russian Transport Ministry Igor Levitin, Culture Minister
Alexander Avdeyev, the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science
Andrei Fursenko and the Minister of Communications Igor Shchegolev.
"Russia is interested in expanding economic cooperation with France,
increasing mutual trade turnover and the amount of investments in the
Russian economy," a Russian government source said.
"New leading French companies are arriving at the Russian market and
investing in long-term joint projects. Large-scale space and aircraft
building projects, including "Soyuz" at Kuru and "Superjet 100", are
implemented according to schedule," the government source went on to say.
Russia has about 470 enterprises with the French capital while
investments are rather diversified in various branches of industry. The
French oil group Total participates in the development of the
Kharyaginskoye oil deposit and the Schtokman gas condensate field; Renault
has a share in the capital of Avtovaz, Pigeout Citroen is building a car
assembly plant in the Kaluga region.
The joint Russian-French venture Alstom-Atomenergomash produces
low-speed turbines for nuclear power stations.
--0-fil/
