Vladimir Putin: Viacheslav Evgenevich, you are going to a country with which Russia has had more than simply a long history of friendly and good neighbourly relations. You are going to a country with which Russia has had a shared destiny throughout many centuries. Unfortunately, over the past few years we have been faced with certain problems.
At the same time, in November of last year we agreed with the President of Georgia that both parties will undertake steps designed to settle our relations. The first such step – and a significant one – was made in December 2006 when we signed agreements and contracts to deliver Russian energy resources to Georgia based on market principles, but in the amounts that Georgia requires.
Russia is fulfilling its obligations and certainly intends to keep doing so in the future. However, this is not the only problem. There are a great many problems. And I very much expect that you will work effectively – actively and effectively – in this direction. And not only with respect to informing the leaders of the Foreign Ministry and other federal authorities, but also by adopting an active attitude towards daily administration.
Our country is playing a significant role in settling the conflicts that we inherited from previous times. In the future we intend to make all necessary efforts, and those that people living on these territories expect from us, to ensure that these problems are resolved in the best and fairest way possible. And this is also one of the major fields in which you work.
I would like to wish you success.
Viacheslav Kovalenko: Thank you Vladimir Vladimirovich.
I have understood my task and will try to accomplish it in an honourable way.