 On the second day of his official visit to the Russain Federation, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, gave a lecture entitled “14 days prior to Astana: OSCE Today and Tomorrow” at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. This was followed by a visit to the seat of the Itar-Tass news agency where he talked to the key Russian media editors. President Türk then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden at the Kremlin Wall.
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 In Kremlin he was received by his host, the President of the Russian Federation, Dr Dmitry Medvedev. Tête-à-tête was followed by a plenary discussion between the Russian and Slovenian delegations led by their respective heads of state.
Afterwards the two Presidents signed the Declaration on Partnership for Modernisation between the Republic of Slovenia and the Russain Federation. On this occasion, the following agreements were also concluded between Slovenia and Russia:
- Memorandum between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Russian federation on key projects for expanding economic cooperation between the Republic of Slovenia and the Russian federation (on behalf of Slovenia signed by Foreign Minister Samuel ®bogar);
- a plan of action in tourism for the period 2011-2012 between the Slovenian Tourist Board and the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation (on behalf of Slovenia signed by Maja Pak, Acting Director General of the Slovenian Tourist Board); and
- Programme of cooperation in the field of culture, science, education and sport for the period 2010-2012 (on behalf of Slovenia signed by Ada Filip Slivnik, Slovenian Ambassador to Russia).
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 President Medvedev stressed that in recent years relations between Russia and Slovenia had been developing very dynamically in all fields. In his words this level of cooperation is reflected in the Declaration on Partnership for Modernisation signed on that day by President Türk and himself. This year’s trade in goods between Russia and Slovenia has increased by 60% compared to 2009, which is very good and indicates that the two countries are tackling the crisis. It also implies that these relations are truly strategic and based on partnership. In cooperation, investment potential had been growing but should be further strengthened, added the Russian President and welcomed the strong Slovenian business delegation accompanying President Türk during his official visit to Russia.
President Türk said that on that day a significant step forward was made in relations between Slovenia and Russia. He agreed that the trade in goods developed well and stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of investments, where he particularly pointed out the cooperation in the field of automobile industry development. He said that Slovenia appreciated the Russian strategy of automobile industry development by 2020 and wished to take part in this major project by specialised manufacturers of automotive parts. In addition, he advocated the further development of cooperation in the field of pharmacy and pharmaceutical technologies. In the words of President Türk, new opportunities open also in the field of integration of health care services and tourist activities. |
 The presidents also touched upon the project of South Stream gas pipeline. President Medvedev expressed his satisfaction with the dynamic development of this strategic project and his hope that it would be implemented in line with agreements. As he explained, the gas pipeline would benefit all participants in the project and positively influence both the economic and human and inter-European cooperation. President Türk, too, expressed his hope that the South Stream project would contribute to the development of energy safety in Europe as a whole and open new paths of cooperation between the Russian Federation and numerous countries taking part in the project. President Türk stressed that Slovenia strongly supported this project also for its multiplicative effects, because the project could contribute to the development of numerous industries and energy as a whole.
The Declaration and Memorandum signed today also foresee the cooperation of both countries in major projects and the exchange of scientific personnel and education projects. President Medvedev stressed that he expected the participation of Slovenian scientists in major Russian scientific, education and investment projects, including the project of establishing the high technology Innovation Centre Skolkovo. In the words of the Russian president, the cooperation in culture, humanities and tourism is very important, too. President Türk said that Slovenia was looking forward to the opening of the Russian cultural centre in Ljubljana. He expressed his hope that the centre would be established before the end of the year and that it would become an important point of cultural contacts between Slovenia and Russia. |
 The Russian and Slovenian presidents also discussed the issues of European security, the relations between Russia and the European Union and the relations between Russia and NATO alliance. President Medvedev said that Russian relations with NATO developed well and that he saw no major problems in the field of relations with the European Union. A new long-term agreement is being prepared about the partnership and cooperation between the European Union and Russia; as regards the preparation of the agreement on visa-free exchange, Russia is still waiting for the positive response of the European Union. President Medvedev expressed his gratitude to President Türk for a very considerate and positive reply to Russian proposals from the field of European security.
President Türk said that Slovenia laid considerable hopes in the development of partnership between NATO and the Russian Federation. Slovenia wishes the NATO-Russia Council to become a standing, efficient and robust authority of international cooperation and to be always available for all relevant security issues. Mr Türk also expressed his wish that the European Union would consider its relations with the Russian Federation and the Eastern Partnership countries at the top priority level. As he explained, the thinking of the Union must be strategic and long-term, and thus the partnership with Russia was of the central importance. In this context, he supported the abolishment of visa restrictions as an important means of further development of these relations. |
 The Presidents also exchanged their positions concerning the situation in the Western Balkans and South Caucasus. President Türk stressed his support to the extremely important efforts of President Medvedev in tackling the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. He added that this required the involvement of the OSCE Minsk Group, where Russia had a leading role. He seized the opportunity to call on all parts in the conflict to participate in the efforts which are underway. In his words, the European Union understands well why the resolution of such problems is beneficial for the European security as a whole and that the present time is favourable to make a few steps forward.
President Medvedev concluded the meeting by thanking President Türk for his visit, and expressed his opinion that the visit with a strong delegation had contributed to the development of friendly relations between the countries. President Türk stressed that the policy of modernisation of President Medvedev opened the possibilities of new relations in Europe and in the world. He added that the policy of modernisation was our way forward and that it brought realistic hopes and expectations. |
 President Türk then met the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Vladimir Putin. In their discussion which lasted for over an hour, they reviewed numerous projects in all fields and devoted their attention to the practical cooperation based on the already prepared agreements. In the words of Dr Danilo Türk, the talks with Prime Minister Putin revealed a high level of knowledge and readiness of Russia to cooperate and assist in the implementation of projects in the fields of energy, automotive cluster, civil engineering, tourism and high technology. |
 In his press release, the President highlighted that today’s talks in Moscow had focused especially on the issues of visa regime and partnership between NATO and Russia. As regards visas, he repeated the position of Slovenia which advocates visa liberalisation, but stressed that the prerequisite for this was a clear hierarchy of priorities of the European Union and a higher position of Russia in this hierarchy. As regards the partnership between NATO and Russia, he said that he saw in the NATO-Russia Council a conception of the institutional development of cooperation, which must, in view of today’s situation, make many a step forward; in his words, this is entirely possible in view of the new strategic concept of NATO.
President Dr Danilo Türk also met with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, his holiness Kiril, with whom he discussed the cooperation in the framework of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, the common spiritual background of the Slavic nations in the cultural heritage, and the traditional ceremony at the Russian Chapel under Vr¹iè pass. |