Russia and France seek more avenues for boosting their robust bilateral ties

The June trip to Paris was Putin’s second visit to France in less than 12 months, as the last trip took place in November 2009, and was capped with a package of lucrative contracts. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also visited Paris in March this year, a sign that highlights the level of robust political contacts between the two countries.

Specifically, during his two-day visit in early last month, a part of elaborately devised programs to mark the ‘Russian Year’ in France and ‘French Year’ in Russia in 2010, Putin met with ex-French President Jacques Chirac, and then with current Prime Minister Francois Fillon, his official host, with whom he opened Russia’s National Expo in Paris and discussed most of the issues on his agenda. He then rounded up the eventful trip with a meeting with President Nikolas Sarkozy in the Elysee Palace to discuss the rest of the political and economic issues of bilateral and geopolitical importance to both Moscow and Paris.

Among the key issues on the agenda were ways of boosting the bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic, defense and cultural sectors, including the purchase of Mistral warships and the construction of a Russian Cultural Center in Paris’ historical center. Others included the turbulent relationships with Georgia after Tbilisi’s miscalculated military adventures in the now independent states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the latent Nagorny-Karabakh conflict, Iran’s nuclear program, etc. 

Talking about the history and uniqueness of Russian-French ties, Putin cited the ex-French leader, Charles de Gaulle, who once said that the ‘Russian-French union usually becomes particularly important at turning moments in history,’ and expressed hope that the programs laid down for marking the Year of Russia in France and Year of France in Russia in 2010 would enable citizens of both nations to know each other much better as they forge plans for more effective cooperation in both short- and long-term perspectives. “We hope that these events will not only enable the French get acquainted with what Russia is proud of today, but also with its plans and capabilities for the 21st century.”

“Sarkozy has called Paris’ readiness to sell Mistrals to Moscow one more additional political signal indicating France’s recognition of Russia as its strategic partner.”

From his side, the French president said Paris’ readiness to sell Mistrals to Moscow should be seen as one more additional political signal of France’s acknowledgement of Russia as a partner. “More specific issues on the deal such as transfer of technologies and distribution of the production facilities are matters for further negotiations.” Reacting swiftly to this, Putin promptly ordered his deputy, Igor Sechin, to set up a special working group to oversee the Russian-French bilateral cooperation in the defense-shipbuilding industry.    

After the official opening of the expo, Putin and Fillon visited the stands of Russian Technologies and AvtoVAZ, which paraded its Lada Kalina Sport and Niva models. They also visited the stand of Russian aircraft-maker Sukhoi, which displayed its latest product - Sukhoi Superjet-100, and capped their presence at the event by witnessing the penning of a strategic cooperation agreement between the Russian Aviation Union and the Association of the French Aerospace Industry.  

The French prime minister, assessing the positive results of the bilateral cooperation between France and Russia in the past decade, noted the bilateral trade turnover between the two countries had risen by over four times since 2000. “Specifically, we are talking about comprehensive cooperation, especially in the auto, aerospace and energy industries,” he added. Fillon also noted that he had discussed the prospects of boosting French companies’ investments in Russia, including in the Far-East region with Putin. “This is because Russia and France are strategic partners.”