OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin met with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good evening! I am very happy to see you.

First of all, I want to congratulate you on receiving the title of Honorary Professor of the Diplomatic Academy of Russia.

You are more than just a long-time veteran of diplomatic service and related work – you have been involved in global politics for nearly your entire life. You have many friends in Russia – our foreign policy veterans, and people who always follow your assessments of developments in the world and various regions with great interest. So presenting you with the title of Honorary Professor of the Diplomatic Academy of Russia is fully justified.

Let me congratulate you once more, and I am very glad to see you again.

FORMER US SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER: Thank you very much, Mr President, for receiving me, in the midst of a very busy period.

I’ve been coming to Russia for over 50 years. And things change, but the basic necessity that our two countries should find a way to cooperate remains ever stronger. And over the years, you have been very generous with your time, to explain your thinking and the Russian point of view to me. And you can be sure that I transmit it to the highest levels in the United States.

When you say kind things about my writing, it doesn’t always help me in the United States. But I appreciate it. And I’ve had very interesting talks here, which actually make me very hopeful. So thank you for receiving me.