President Of Portugal Visits St-Petersburg University

President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio met students and teachers of the St.-Petersburg University on Monday. Jorge Sampaio is in Russia on a five-day official visit. In his speech before the students and teaching staff of the university the Portuguese president dwelt on the transition from authoritarianism to democracy in Portugal. The Portuguese head of state believes that Russia and Portugal have much in common and that Russia can draw on the Portuguese experience. Sampaio also noted the necessity of Russia's integration in all-European structures and stressed that "without Russia there is no Europe."