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Russian President to attend launching of Nord Stream gas pipeline

The itinerary of his visit is due to begin in Berlin with a meeting with Germany’s President Christian Wulff

BERLIN, November 8 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev, who arrived on an official visit in Germany Monday, is expected to attend the ceremony of launching the Nord Stream gas pipeline and to hold talks with Germany’s leaders.

The itinerary of his visit is due to begin in Berlin with a meeting with Germany’s President Christian Wulff, after which he will go aboard a helicopter to the town of Lubmin on the coast of the Baltic Sea.

Apart from Medvedev and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, the other European officials due to attend the ceremony are the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, and the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon.

Following the ceremony, the leaders of the four countries will have a conversation in the format of a working lunch.

Upon return to Berlin, Medvedev will hold a conference with executives of Germany’s sixteen major companies that form the top echelon of the nation’s business quarters. Their scope includes Siemens, Deutsche Bank, E.On, Ruhrgas, and Khauf.

The Russian President is supposed to make a brief introductory word, after which he will answer the participants’ questions.

Accompanying Medvedev on this visit to Germany are the chief of the Kremlin Administration staff, Sergei Prikhodko, Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, and the CEO of the natural gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller.

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