Russia, Israel will promote major joint projects, including in energy sector - Putin
JERUSALEM. June 25 (Interfax) -Russia and Israel will expand economic ties by promoting major joint projects, including in the energy sector.
"A visit to Israel has again convinced me that the strong bonds of friendship, which link our two countries, are not empty words. They are a real and strong footing that allows us to maintain a successful political dialogue and diversified partnership," Putin said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following bilateral talks.
The entire spectrum of Russian-Israeli relations has been discussed with a special accent on economic issues, he said.
"We and our Israeli colleagues want to promote economic ties, primarily by encouraging major joint projects, including in such an important sector as energy," Putin said.
"We have fairly good opportunities at our disposal along Gazprom lines, and along the lines of electric energy, I mean Inter RAO UES," he said.
Good prospects are opening in agriculture and related industries, since Russia and Israel have a serious potential, Putin said.
"Concrete results have been achieved in the high-technology sector," he added.
Putin commended active progress in cultural and humanitarian contacts. "I would like to thank our Israeli friends again for helping to restore Russia's historical rights to St. Sergius Metochion," he said.
The talks covered the theme of World War II, which is sensitive for both countries, Putin said. "We discussed a biased and sometimes cynical interpretation of the history of World War II. We have the common task to counter attempts to falsify the truth about the war and about its lessons," he said.
"We highly value Israel's objective attitude to the events of World War II. No one doubts here the Soviet Union's decisive role in defeating Nazism. The nation that has gone through Holocaust remembers well its killers and liberators," he said.
Putin thanked Israel for opening a memorial for the Red Army in Netanya.
