Interfax's Interview

 "Judging by the first direct contacts between President Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Sarkozy at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm last June there is every reason to believe that the talks and informal meetings in Moscow on October 9-10 will take place in the same frank and businesslike atmosphere," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Interfax.

 He expected that "the conversation about the prospects and tasks of cooperation between our two countries, in particular on the economy as well as the discussion of the most pressing intentional subjects" will continue during Sarkozy's visit.

 "Among the items on the bilateral agenda of the talks I would single out cooperation in high tech industries: car and aircraft manufacturing, space exploration, telecommunications and transport," Grushko said.

 The organization of the year of France in Russia in 2009 and the year of Russia in France in 2010 will also be discussed, he said.

 Grushko praised the standard of Russian-French relations. He said that that the biggest and most promising joint project in space exploration is the program of Soyuz spacecraft launches from the Kourou space center in French Guiana.

 "Ties between the European Aeronautic Defence And Space Company (EADS), the United Aircraft Corporation and Russian air carriers are developing at a good pace," the official said.

 He said Russia is paying special attention to interaction with the French on the Superjet 100 regional aircraft project and also the certification according to European requirements and promotion on intentional markets of the fire-fighting modification of the Beriyev Be- 200 aircraft.

 "As for the automotive industry, preparations are under way for building a Peugeot-Citroen car assembly facility in Russia. The Renault production capacities in Moscow have also doubled," Grushko said.

 "This is only a part of the impressive portfolio of economic cooperation projects," he said.
 The intentions of France to strengthen relations with the United States won't damage its ties with Russia, Grushko said.

 "As for talk of a certain change of France's orientation toward the United States and the resulting complication of its ties with Russia, it is true that some analysts have arrived at such a conclusion," he said.

 "However, there is no insurmountable contradiction between the willingness of the French to strengthen friendly relations with the United States and to carry on the traditional partnership with us," Grushko said.

 "We are also trying to maintain a friendly relationship with the United States. Our traditionally good relations with other partners, including France, do not suffer from that in any way," he said.

 "Russia and France have always had a special relationship the nature and quality of which has never been limited only to considerations of passing economic benefit or political expediency," he said.

 These relations are based on "a cultural and historical closeness that our nations have developed over the centuries," he said.

 "There is every reason to be confident that continuity in strengthening the strategic partnership between our countries will be guaranteed in any case," Grushko said.
 He dismissed the accusations of certain European politicians that Russia is using energy supplies to attain political goals.

 "For decades Russia has been, and remains, the most reliable energy partner of Europe. We are convinced that the mutual dependence between Russia and the EU, including France, in this sphere will only grow," Grushko said.

 At the end of August French President Nicolas Sarkozy criticized Russia's moves on the international arena saying that Moscow is imposing its return to the world stage by using its trump cards with a certain brutality.

 Grushko said Russia stands "for clear, predictable and equal principles of energy cooperation in the interests of both sides. "Those who are afraid of such mutual dependence are speaking of brutality. But that has nothing to do with Russia's energy policy," he said.

 He described the prospects of the Russian-French energy dialogue as fairly good. "Energy has been and remains a priority sector of Russian- French cooperation," he said.
 In this context Grushko recalled the framework agreement signed in July by Gazprom, Sevmorneftegaz and France's Total on the basic conditions of cooperation in developing the first stage of the Shtokman gas field.

 "We are glad that this major project will be implemented together with French partners who have ample experience and an immaculate reputation," he said.

 Grushko said that Gazprom has been cooperating closely with Gaz de France for many years. "There are also interesting joint projects in nuclear power engineering," he added.
 He said Russia expects that the dialogue on visa-free travel between Russia and the European Union will become more concrete once France takes over the presidency of in the EU in the second half of 2008.

 "We expect that the dialogue on the subject of visa-free travel will assume an even more concrete shape during the French presidency," Grushko told Interfax.

 "The results of the interaction between Russia and the EU should become more tangible, primarily for the citizens of our countries," he said. "Given this we regard consistent advancement to a state visa-free travel between Russia and the European Union as a priority and a strategic task," he said.

 On the recent statement made by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, that the question of relations between Russia and the EU will be one of the most important issues during the French presidency, Grushko said: "We welcome this mind set from the French leadership."

 "France is a traditional supporter of the rapprochement between Russia and the European Union, not just a key partner in foreign policy, trade and economic relations," he added.

 "We remember the positive potential that was contributed to Russia- EU relations when France previously held the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2000. I mean primarily the first concrete steps to launch the Russia-EU energy dialogue. It remains a key factor of forming a common economic space between Russia and the EU. It also marked the beginning of dialogue and cooperation on European security and defense policy issues," Grushko said.

 "We must also single out the significant contribution that France made at the Russia-EU summit in St. Petersburg in May 2003 to the new, future-oriented concept of interaction on the European continent - the formation of four common spaces; in terms the economy, freedom, security and justice; external security; and research and culture, including human contacts," he said.

 "We hope that the French presidency of the EU will be extraordinary in all these directions," the senior diplomat said.

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