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Putin to discuss with Luxembourg PM economic coop, eurozone

It is stressed in the Kremlin that Putin and Juncker will discuss “topical international problems”

MOSCOW, September 24 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker in the Kremlin on Tuesday. Economy, including the situation in the eurozone, will be among the main themes of the conversation, a source in the Russian president’s press service told ltar-Tass.

“Economic interaction is expected to be one of the main themes. Luxembourg is in the trio of the major investors into the Russian economy. The volume of capital investment reached 36.7 billion dollars by the end of June 2012,” said the Kremlin source. “Cooperation develops in the areas of high technologies; there are good examples of practical interaction in metallurgy, electric engineering, satellite and space communication, infrastructure and medicine,” said the source. Luxembourg bank structures help establish Moscow as an international financial center.

Russian regions show much interest in establishing ties with Luxembourg. The program of Juncker’s three-day stay in the Russian Federation envisages visits to Tatarstan and the Tambov region. Thus, in Kazakhstan he will have a discussion with Tatarstan’s head Rustam Minnikhanov about the introduction of “e-government” system, the establishment of technology parks and free economic zones and modernization of petrochemical enterprises. In the city of Kirsanov in the Tambov region, the prime minister of Luxembourg will attend the unveiling of a monument to Luxembourg citizens - WWII victims. The ceremony is timed for the tragic date – the 70th anniversary of forcible call-up of 15,000 Luxembourg citizens into Wehrmacht.

It is stressed in the Kremlin that Putin and Juncker will discuss “topical international problems - the global economic situation, prospects for improvement in the eurozone, and cooperation of Russia and the European Union.” The Luxembourg prime minister also holds the influential post of the head of the Euro Group, the club of finance ministers of the eurozone countries.

“The Russian-Luxembourg relations are of friendly, partnership nature,” it was stressed in the Kremlin.

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