MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to work with his French counterpart Francois Hollande to strengthen partnership between the two countries.
Putin congratulated Hollande on the election as France’s president, the Kremlin press service reported on Monday.
“We really value the traditions of our partnership with France. I’d like to confirm my readiness to actively work with you to further strengthen cooperation between both countries,” Putin stressed.
In his greetings message, Putin said, “The French citizens trusted you to lead the country in a rather important and difficult period when Europe and the whole world community face the tasks to overcome the financial and economic crisis and build new models of cooperation.”
“Amidst globalisation the problems and challenges – the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, trans-border crime and drug trafficking, natural and technogenic calamities – are becoming more and more burning and require consolidation and coordination of efforts. So, cooperation in fighting these challenges can yield results if it is maintained in full compliance with the norms of international law and the principles of security indivisibility,” the Russian president said.
“I express satisfaction with the fact that strategic cooperation between the two countries meets these high requirements. Russian-French cooperation develops successfully in a constructive manner on the basis of friendship, mutual sympathies and respect between our peoples. The political dialogue, mutually advantageous economic, scientific, technical, cultural relations are being expanded,” he stressed.
“We value the traditions of Russian-French partnership. I’d like to confirm my readiness for the active joint work with you to promote it further,” Putin pointed out.