OREANDA-NEWS. July 14, 2009. “Our people are connected by long-standing relations of friendship, mutual respect and trust,” reads the message from the Russian President. “Meanwhile, the traditional Russian-French partnership always has been and remains a significant factor in European and global policy.

2010 has been declared the Year of France in Russia and the Year of Russia in France, and promises to be one more striking example of our fruitful dialogue and multifaceted bilateral cooperation. I am convinced that continuing effective mutually advantageous efforts – of which our joint participation in the G8 summit in L'Aquila is a good example – is perfectly compatible with the interests of our peoples, and helps strengthen pan-European stability and safety.”