Vladimir Putin visited the central control room and met with the company’s top executives.
Addressing a news conference at the Gazprom head office, the acting president discussed contacts between Gazprom and RAO UES of Russia. Though their corporate interests may differ, national interests should unite the two companies, he pointed out.
Mr Putin also commented on a PACE resolution concerning the situation in the Chechen Republic. He expressed certainty that European parliamentarians would eventually see that Russia was protecting all of Europe from extremism. Russia would continue to provide evidence to justify its actions, and its determination to integrate into Europe would not diminish.
Mr Putin also touched on issues of developing military capability.