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Prince of Monaco: visit to Russia opportunity to strengthen friendly contacts

Monaco and Russia have a considerable potential for strengthening the already established close friendly relations in many fields

Photos EPA / IAN LANGSDON

Photos EPA / IAN LANGSDON

MONACO, October 2 (Itar-Tass) - Monaco and Russia have a considerable potential for strengthening the already established close friendly relations in many fields, Prince Albert II of Monaco told Itar-Tass in an exclusive interview given to Mikhail Gusman, the agency's First Deputy Director-General, ahead of his visit to the Russan Federation.

"I am particularly glad to visit Russia again," Prince Albert said. "Strong friendly contacts are now maintained not only between President Vladimir Putin and me, but also between the Principality of Monaco and the RF. This is why this State visit is of special, symbolic nature". "It is important to invigorate the existing relations. We have got various subjects for discussion with President Putin", he pointed out.

Albert II said his visit also makes it possible to strengthen the current agreements and conclude new ones, specifically an agreement on cooperation, on the development of relations in various fields: the economy, culture, and sports. "My attitude is optimistic and I am confident that the visit will be crowned with success," he emphasized.

"In recent years, we had many occasions for meetings with Mr. Putin not only in Russia but also abroad, within the framework of various international organizations," Prince Albert went on to say. "This is always a great joy to me. This is a man of dialogue, a very frank person who is prepared to discuss various subjects, including environmental matters to which I attach special importance, the problems of the Arctic, in particular, a proper use of Arctic resources, but also any other matters". "In the person of President Putin I always find an attentive interlocutor and I always heed pieces of his advice," Albert II said. "I am highly gratified with the opportunity to meet him again and freely to exchange opinions".

The Kremlin press service reported that on October 4 Putin would receive Albert II who would be in Russia for an official visit. "During their conversation, the sides will discuss cooperation priorities, first of all prospects for wider trade-and-economic and cultural-and-humanitarian contacts. They are also expected to exchange views on topical items on the international agenda," a Kremlin press service official pointed out.

The interview of the Prince of Monaco will be broadcast in full in a Formula of Power programme on Russia-24 television channel.

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