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Putin thanks Prince of Monaco for support to Sochi Olympics

MOSCOW, October 4 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday received Monaco’s Prince Albert II, who is in Russia for an official visit. The Russian president noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries and thanked Albert II for his support to the Sochi Olympics.

Prince Albert, in turn, said he would be happy to visit Sochi with his spouse to attend the opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympic Games. He also said he planned to attend the ceremony of the Olympic torch relay start.

During the talks, Putin noted the importance of ties with Monaco, a big European financial centre. “We have very good relations,” he noted. “Thanks to your active political and public activities we maintain regular contacts.” Putin also said that Russia had joined the Mediterranean Science Commission (headquartered in Monaco; the sides exchanged relevant documents earlier on Friday in the presence of Prince Albert II - Itar-Tass). “We proceed from the fact that the Black Sea is adjacent to the Mediterranean, forming practically a single ecosystem, so we will have an opportunity to discuss this subject as well,” Putin said.

Albert II hailed Russia’s accession of this commission and said he was sure it would make it possible to expand cooperation as far as research of the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems was concerned. “I am glad that Russian researchers will make a contribution,” he said.

Prince Albert II is on an official visit to Russia from October 3 through October 8. Previously, he paid a number of working and private visits to Russia but none of them enjoyed the official status. Later on Friday, Putin and Albert II will take part in the opening of an exhibition of Olympic torches from Albert’s personal collection.

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