All news

Putin focuses on security, fight against terrorism at talks with Slovenia’s president

Earlier in the day, Putin and Pahor unveiled a monument to Russian and Soviet soldiers fallen in two world wars

LJUBLJANA, July 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that during a 90-minute ride with Slovenian President Borut Pahor in a car they could discuss security and fight against terrorism.

"I have informed you in detail on some issues related to security and fight against terrorism. We were going by car for almost an hour and a half and had an opportunity to talk about everything," Putin said at the beginning of the talks.

Earlier in the day, Putin and Pahor unveiled a monument to Russian and Soviet soldiers fallen in two world wars.

"Humanitarian and historic reasons have been behind our meeting, which has provided us with an opportunity to focus on the totality of bilateral relations and the relationships of Russia with the EU and NATO. I mean that Slovenia is a member of both organizations," Putin said at the beginning of the talks.

"We can see how Slovenia keeps the memory of the common history and the memory of those who suffered in conflicts," he said, noting that Moscow and Ljubljana continued a dialog but trade and economic ties were on the decline.

"We have just discussed what had happened in trade between (Russia) and the (United) States and between (Russia) and the EU, as (the trade) is in a slump with both of them. The trade with the U.S. was $28bln and with the EU - over 445bln euros. It has shrunk twice with the EU to 225bln and plunged by two-three billions with the U.S.," the Russian president said. "It is definitely bad so I am especially grateful to you for a possibility to talk what we can do to support trade and forge economic ties and to find new ways for promoting our relationship.".

Slovenia’s president for dialog with Russia to bridge divisions

Slovenia’s President said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the divisions between countries should be bridged in order to come up united against challenges.

"Today we can state that the economic crisis has passed but new crises have emerged. Both Slovenia, as a member of NATO and the EU on the one hand, and Russia (on the other hand) have distanced from each other," Pahor said at the beginning of talks with Putin. "Nonetheless, I feel that now is the right time for bridging emerging divisions as now it is the time when all have to unite efforts for coming up against current serious threats."

Slovenia tries to maintain friendship with Russia as far as possible, he said.