ST.PETERSBURG, April 10. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Russia and Iceland have good prospects of fostering cooperation, including on the Arctic issue.
Opening talks with Iceland’s President Gudni Johannesson, the Russian leader said that on Tuesday leaders of several countries attending the International Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg held a substantive discussion "about the situation in the Arctic region and in broader terms about the situation in the world."
Putin recalled that Iceland holds presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council consists of five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. "We have good and constructive relations with all these countries," the Russian leader said.
Speaking about Russia’s relations with Iceland, Putin noted that they have always been "very constructive and friendly." He hopes that the two countries have "the possibility of moving forward, despite difficulties."
Iceland’s president stressed that the two countries’ relations have been mutually beneficial, both at the modern stage and during the Soviet era. "When difficulties emerged, we ironed them out. One thing that has always united and unites us - the Arctic is here to stay," Johannesson said, thanking Russia for its invitation to take part in the International Arctic Forum.
The discussion at the forum and also the talks between the leaders of Russia, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland during a working dinner showed that the regional states "need the Arctic as a dialogue territory."
"I expect further cooperation with you, Mr. President, and to discuss how we can develop and enhance constructive relations between two our countries," he said.
The Fifth International Arctic Forum, organized by the Roscongress Foundation, is taking place in Russia’s St. Petersburg on April 9-10. This year, the event’s main theme is ‘The Arctic. An Ocean of Opportunities’. TASS is the general information partner and the official photohost agency of the event.