Vladimir Putin highly assesses Great Britain's importance to Russia

Vladimir Putin highly assesses Great Britain's importance to Russia.

"The role and significance of Great Britain is vitally important for Russia both in terms of coordination of our standpoints concerning international problems and integration into the European economy, as well as bilateral economic and political relations," he stated in the light of his upcoming visit to Great Britain.

At a press conference in the Kremlin the President recalled that there had been no such visits to Great Britain at such level for 150 years and expressed confidence that his "tour would give a powerful impetus for development of Russo-British relations".

Putin highly assessed his personal relations with British Premier Tony Blair. "They are good and friendly," he said. During Blair's latest visit to Moscow the parties made important decisions, despite the fact that no definite results were officially announced. For example, they coordinated major parametres of the UN Security Council resolution concerning Iraq.

We could not announce this decision, as its realisation did not depend on Russia and Great Britain alone, but on all members of the UN Security Council, the President stated.

"Great Britain's political activity is very important in Europe and in the world in general," he stressed.