The visual definition of their "relations"
Posted on 01/21/2005 2:10:03 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
MOSCOW, Jan. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia attaches special significance to the development of relations with France and the two countries share similar views over world affairs, President Vladimir Putin said while meeting with two top French officials here on Friday.
During talks with visiting French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier and Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie in the Kremlin, Putin said that France is not just "a priority partner," but also one with which "we are building very trusting relations and intendto develop specific ties in both the economic and security spheres," Interfax news agency reported.
The Russian leader confirmed that Moscow and Paris "coincide inlarge part" on the development of the world situation.
Putin stressed that he is especially upbeat about the prospectsfor Russian-French arms trade, citing the joint project of developing a heavy helicopter based on Russia's Mi-26.
He also expressed interest in building an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Alliot-Marie assured Putin that the program would be discussed.
The French defense minister said joint defense-oriented work "is moving ahead in military cooperation and on armament issues," and such cooperation also needs to develop successfully on fleets,aviation and ground forces.
The high level of industry in Russia and France makes it possible to further cooperate in weapons design, Alliot-Marie pointed out.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said after meeting with Alliot-Marie earlier in the day at the Russian-French Security Cooperation Council here that the two countries will conduct jointtraining exercises to work out ways to combat terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
During the meeting, also attended by Barnier and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the high-level officials discussed the Iran nuclear issue, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, in Iraqand the Middle East, as well as in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and the ways to broaden Russian-NATO cooperation in fighting terrorism andthe proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Great. Just Great.
those Ruskies keep getting in on the wrong side of history.....they must really like the underdogs or just that birds of a feather flock together to sell arms to Saddam
Lose Ukraine, annex France
Good. Russia is showing it's real face. I'd rather there be no pretense, than allow an illusion of allied union while Putin conspires against us in background.
This isn't to state I have forsaken the Russian people. All polls suggest the public is at very least divided with support for the U.S. We should create an environment where an ability to assume their government becomes as possible as what happened in Ukraine. The Russian people are not a lost cause, although Putin gives all appearances of being so.
Who hasn't had relations with France? France puts out like, well err, a French Wh@#$. Wha? Oh. Not those kind of relations. Never mind.
"Putin hails relations with Putane."
Weasels in luv....
Both want to control the world.
Putin and Chirac have my permission to have relations with each other or with themselves, whichever they choose.
Putin and Chirac have just one thing in common: their noses are out of joint. The better Bush succeeds, the more they hate him.
I've said it before. A smart leader doesn't let himself be guided by resentment or anger. I thought Putin was tough, likely to take advantage of his allies if he got the chance, but smart. Evidently not. He's doing himself and Russia both a disservice with this petty nonsense.
Well, after the West more or less stabbed Russia in the gut over the Beslan rapes and the Ukraine elections, what exactly CAN he do?
I'm not saying I agree with everything Putin does. But goodness knows running that country can't be a simple task. Seems like everyone wants a piece of Russia these days.
St.Petersburg-Paris-Berlin Axis Power Pact!
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