THE WHITE HOUSE's latest

The White House • June 11, 2019 Ivanka Trump is fighting to get women a seat at the table across the globe Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump met with a group of bipartisan lawmakers on Capitol Hill today, previewing a new initiative from the Trump Administration to boost the role that women play in global peace and security processes. When women are involved in peace negotiations, important issues that help societies recover from conflict are more likely to be considered. In fact, research shows that peace agreements have a better chance of succeeding if women participate. Societies that empower women economically and politically are also more stable and peaceful, while those that marginalize women are likelier to experience regular conflict. President Donald J. Trump believes in policymaking that gets real-world results. His Administration’s new plan—the Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security—will help enhance women’s participation in resolving conflict, countering violent extremism, and building peace and stability. It's both a moral imperative and smart foreign policy. The new strategy implements the Women, Peace, and Security Act signed by the President in 2017. President Trump was the first world leader to sign standalone legislation on the topic—making the United States the first country in the world with a comprehensive law addressing women, peace, and security. That effort coincides with work already underway by the Trump Administration to empower women and girls across the globe. In February, the President signed a memorandum launching W-GDP, an initiative led by Ivanka Trump that seeks to empower 50 million women economically across the developing world by 2025. How President Trump is supporting women’s political empowerment globally The Wall Street Journal: Ivanka Trump Pushes Initiative to Give Women Bigger Role in Global Peace Efforts Getting Washington out of the way for farmers In Iowa earlier today, President Trump signed an executive order that will lift a major regulatory burden off of America’s farming community. Biotechnology has been used by our farmers for decades to produce safer, more sustainable crops. But Washington often has a way of making things more difficult than they should be. For years, agricultural innovators have been shackled with a regulatory maze that can take more than a decade to navigate. Far removed from America's heartland, politicians like to tack on regulation with little regard for the hidden costs. Effective immediately, President Trump’s executive order will direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to streamline the entire biotechnology approval process—giving our farmers much-needed certainty about the important work they do. Watch President Trump discuss renewable energy in Iowa. More welcome news: The Trump Administration approves year-round sales of E15 Video of the day: The 2019 Indy 500 winner Yesterday, President Trump welcomed Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud to the White House. Last month, Simon became the 103rd champion of the historic race. With the No. 22 Indy car parked on the South Lawn, President Trump congratulated Pagenaud along with Team Penske. “The job that Simon did, if you saw that—that was talent and it was a lot of courage,” the President said. Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead Marine One with President Trump aboard lands at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, en route to Iowa for an event on renewable energy | June 11, 2019

"It's a Huge Deal" – Iowa Farmers React to President Trump's Order on E15 Fuel “President Donald Trump came to Council Bluffs to praise farmers, and pledged to continue fighting for them,” José Zozaya reports for KETV. “The president announced year-round sales of E15 fuel. He also signed an executive order to streamline the biotechnology process.” These new actions will help reduce costs, eliminate delays, and ultimately allow farmers to produce safer, more sustainable crops without excessive interference from Washington. “It’s a huge deal,” said local farmer Bruce Bracker. President Trump is “a businessman that keeps his word.” Click here to read more. The Trump Administration unveiled a new initiative yesterday “aimed at giving women a bigger role in global peace and security efforts,” Catherine Lucey reports for The Wall Street Journal. “White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, has been a key champion of the effort and took part in a discussion about it at the Capitol with a bipartisan group of lawmakers.” Ms. Trump said that the Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security “recognizes that women’s participation and empowerment are essential to good defense policy, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building efforts.” “The acting Homeland Security secretary gave lawmakers a glimpse Tuesday into just how many asylum seekers skip their hearings after being released into the United States -- telling a Senate panel that a recent program found 90 percent miss their court dates,” Adam Shaw reports for Fox News. “The secretary described authorities as hamstrung by laws that limit how long they can keep migrants in custody.” “The Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border is currently in custody of more than 8,000 illegal immigrants, nearly three times the intended capacity of 3,363,” Eddie Scarry reports in the Washington Examiner. U.S. Customs and Border Protection warned Monday that America’s border security system will collapse under the weight of mass illegal immigration if no action is taken by Congress. “This is a tragedy and Democrats in Congress refuse to do anything about it. It's exactly how they want our immigration system to work.” “USMCA will lead to more jobs, larger paychecks, and cheaper prices for American consumers,” Rep. George Holding (R-NC) writes in The Hill. “It’s time for Washington to buck up and get this agreement over the finish line. We have before us a once in a generation opportunity to define a new global standard in digital trade, one that positions the United States as the world leader in the digital economy. We can’t afford to let it slip away.”

AHEPA e-News!

AHEPA e-News! - Vol. 13 Issue 23 - Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Make Plans Today! | 2019 Supreme Convention Chicago will play host to the 97th AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, July 1 to 6, 2019. The Palmer House Hilton Hotel will be the venue.  Details, including hotel accommodations, can be found here. Secure the $159 plus tax per night room rate by making your reservation today! Room rate expires June 15. Online registration is open until June 16: (AHEPA) (DOP) Got a team that can ball? There's no "bubble" to play in the 2019 AHEPA National Basketball Tournament. | Details here Sons & Maids Reunion Weekend, July 5-7 | Details here Chairman Karacostas with his U.S representative, Grace Meng, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. AHEPA Supports Annual PSEKA Conference AHEPA was a proud supporter of the 35th Annual International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) Conference as one of the event's co-sponsors. Chairman of the Board Nicholas Karacostas, PSP; Supreme Secretary George Horiates, Past Supreme Treasurer Nick Vamvakias, and Executive Director Basil Mossaidis represented AHEPA on behalf of Supreme President George E. Loucas. The conference was held June 4 to 6 in Washington. | Conference coverage via GreekNews Online AHEPA Works Quietly for Good  Check out this letter to the editor written by Past District 7 Governor Gregory Simones and published June 10 by The Day, an award-winning, local daily newspaper based in New London, Connecticut. Greece as a Geostrategic Ally The Atlantic Council's Future Europe Initiative and the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Athens Exchange Group, hosted a conversation on "Greece as a Geostrategic Ally," yesterday in Washington. Panelists included: U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt; Alternate Greek Minister of Finance George Chouliarakis; and Simos Anastasopoulos, president,  AmCham Greece. Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow and News Correspondent Katerina Sokou moderated. | Watch Notice of Funding Availability for New Construction of HUD 202 Affordable Elderly Housing    Has your chapter been interested to provide dignified, affordable housing to our nation's low-income elderly through the AHEPA National Housing program? Then now might be a good time. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a round of funding availability (NOFA) for the construction of new Section 202 affordable housing for the elderly--the first such announcement in several years. If interested, AHEPA Management Company has outlined what your chapter needs to know about how to proceed, including who to contact. The deadline to apply is August 28, 2019. Learn More: NOFA Fact Sheet from AHEPA Management Company  Don't forget to follow AHEPA on social media:                                    Join AHEPA Today! In Our Own Words. What AHEPA means to us. Join AHEPA Now Upcoming Events & Deadlines   June 13 | AHEPA's Sixth "Milk for Flint" Drive 15 | Deadline: Supreme Convention room reservations 16 | Deadline: Online Supreme Convention registration (AHEPA) (DOP) July 1 - 6 | 97th Annual AHEPA Family Supreme Convention, Chicago 5 - 6 | AHEPA National Basketball Tournament, Chicago 5 - 7 | Sons & Maids Reunion Weekend, Chicago Greek American News Digest   Editor's Note: Editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and articles are shared for information purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the Order of AHEPA, its affiliated organizations, and members.   Greek, U.S. Defense Leaders Meet at Pentagon U.S. Department of Defense  (June 7)   Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan met with Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the two nations.  read more Greece to hold snap election in July after presidential approval Euronews (June 11) Greeks will go to the polls in July, after the country's president approved a request to hold a snap election. Prime minister Alexis Tsipras called for the vote on Monday, just four months before the end of his term, and it was accepted by Greek president Prokopis Pavlopoulos. The snap election is expected to take place on July 7.  read more Turkey Slams Alleged Cypriot Arrest Warrants Against CrewU.S. News & World Report via Associated Press (June 10) Turkey is warning that it would give "the necessary response" to Cyprus following reports that Greek Cypriot authorities have issued international arrest warrants against the crew of a Turkish drillship and others assisting a bid to search for gas off the ethnically divided island nation.  read more US cautions Turkey over Cyprus Ekathimerini (June 9)   The United States has reiterated its call to Turkey not to proceed with offshore drilling operations within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and repeated its support of the Mediterranean island's right to exploit and develop its oil and gas resources.  read more Acropolis Museum turns 10 Ekathimerini (June 10) The Acropolis Museum, considered among the world's best, is celebrating 10 years since it opened its doors to the public, living up to a phrase used by its president, Professor Dimitrios Pandermalis, at a press conference for the occasion this week - that "the whole point is giving as much as you can to your visitors." And what a decade it's been too, with some 14.5 million visitors crossing its threshold.  read more Getty Museum Acquires Engraved Greek, Minoan Gems The Pappas Post (June 7)   The Los Angeles-based J. Paul Getty Museum has acquired a collection of 17 ancient engraved gems that include Greek gems of the Minoan, Archaic and Classical periods. The collection also includes Etruscan and Roman gems, some of which are in their original gold rings.  read more Moses Elisaf, First Jewish Mayor Elected in Greece, Talks to TNH The National Herald (June 11) The new Mayor of Ioannina, Moses Elisaf called the Greeks living abroad, "a great strength," and invited them all to become ambassadors of Ioannina and Epirus to the United States in his interview with The National Herald. read more Former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus officially joins Navy The Hill (June 11) Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus on Monday officially joined the U.S. Navy following a commissioning ceremony led by Vice President Pence.  read more

CANADA newestQThe Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau..

Canada and the Métis Nation continue progress on the Canada-Métis Nation Accord

June 13, 2019
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today met with the President of the Métis National Council (MNC), Clément Chartier, and the Presidents of the MNC Governing Members, at the annual Crown-Métis Nation Summit.

Together, the leaders reviewed progress made over the past year in social and economic policies and programs, governance, and reconciliation. Achievements include historic investments to support a Métis Nation-led post-secondary education strategy; investments to recognize the contributions of Métis veterans during the Second World War; and enhanced funding for the Métis Capital Corporation to support small and medium-sized businesses.

The Prime Minister and Métis Nation leaders identified new and ongoing priorities for the coming year, including child and family services, education, health, justice and policing, youth and sports, and implementation of Section 35 rights. Participants also discussed the recently signed Post-Secondary Education Sub-Accord with the Métis Nation, which will help make sure Métis Nation students have the opportunities they need to pursue post-secondary education.

The Summit is an important part of our ongoing work toward a renewed relationship between Canada and the Métis Nation based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership. We will continue to work with the Métis Nation to take further steps to support their vision of self-determination, and a shared and prosperous future.

Quotes

“Since the signing of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord, we have been working with the Métis Nation toward a renewed, strengthened relationship that supports the interests and aspirations of the Métis Nation and all Canadians. Each year, these meetings give us the opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together, and to take new steps to advance our priorities on the path of reconciliation.”
—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“The annual Summit with the Prime Minister allows us to review and advance further the progress we are making at the Ministerial and senior officials’ levels in addressing and fulfilling the priorities of the Métis Nation. Through the Canada-Métis Nation Accord process in the past two years, we have achieved more with this federal government than with any of its predecessors. We truly look forward to working with Prime Minister Trudeau and his ministers to maintain this momentum going forward.”
—Clément Chartier, President of the Métis National Council

“Since the signing of the Canada-Métis Nation Accord on April 13, 2017, the relationship with Canada has strengthened. By Canada and the Métis Nation working so well together, Métis people will benefit in numerous areas including housing, early learning and child care, post-secondary education, employment and training, economic development and language. Our thanks to Prime Minister Trudeau and his government for making this happen.”
—Clara Morin Dal Col, President of Métis Nation British Columbia

“Together with Canada, the Métis Nation has made great strides advancing our inherent right of self-determination and self-government and in addressing the needs of our nation. It is with a willing partner in the Government of Canada that we have been able to collaborate on advancing our shared priorities to benefit the Métis.”
—Audrey Poitras, President of the Métis Nation of Alberta

“Creating a space for respectful yet challenging dialogue is a necessary step to establishing a meaningful and lasting relationship between the Métis Nation and Canada. On behalf of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, I appreciate the efforts of the federal and Métis leaders willing to address the real issues that affect our people today and in the future. We look forward to having our voice heard and improving policies and systems that affect the lives of all Métis people.”
—Glen McCallum, President of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan

“As we continue to work tirelessly to have our voices heard, and our constitutionally enshrined rights respected, it is heartening to know this federal government understands its role in reconciliation with the Metis Nation. I commend Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Bennett, for not only acknowledging that responsibility, but for also treating us with respect and dignity.”
—David Chartrand, President of Manitoba Metis Federation

ΚΙΝΗΜΑ ΣΥΝΤΑΞΙΟΥΧΩΝ: "ΜΕ ΠΟΙΑ ΑΠΟΘΕΜΑΤΙΚΑ";

Με ποιά αποθεματικά; Η συζήτηση που εξελίσσεται στον πολιτικό διάλογο γύρω από το ασφαλιστικό αναδεικνύει κι άλλη μια πτυχή του προβλήματος, την οποία δεν είχαμε μέχρι σήμερα… Αν στους σημερινούς εργαζόμενους νομοθετηθεί η δυνατότητα να διαχειρίζονται τις εισφορές τους μέσω funds ή άλλων ασφαλιστικών φορέων… Αν σταματήσει δηλαδή το αναδιανεμητικό σύστημα, που υπάρχει μεταπολεμικά, με την αλληλεγγύη των γενεών κλπ… Ανακύπτει λοιπόν το … Διαβάστε το άρθρο

ΠΑΥΛΙΔΗΣ Α.Ε. ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΝΙΤΕΣ:IΣΧΥΡΗ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ ΜΕ ΕΞΑΓΟΡΕΣ&ΕΠΕΝΔΥΣΕΙΣ ΝΕΩΝ ΚΟΙΤΑΣΜΑΤΩΝ

 ΠΑΥΛΙΔΗΣ Α.Ε. ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΝΙΤΕΣ:IΣΧΥΡΗ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ ΜΕ  ΕΞΑΓΟΡΕΣ&ΕΠΕΝΔΥΣΕΙΣ ΝΕΩΝ ΚΟΙΤΑΣΜΑΤΩΝ

(Μ.Χ.Β:Η παρούσα ανάρτηση δεν αποτελεί ΔΙΑΦΗΜΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΧΩΡΗΣΗ. Είναι επιλογή της Εφημερίδας και συμπεριλαμβάνεται στην νέα ετικέττα της "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣ")

Με εντυπωσιακό θετικό πρόσημο έκλεισαν τα ετήσια οικονομικά αποτελέσματα του 2018 για τον Όμιλο ΠΑΥΛΙΔΗΣ Α.Ε. ΜΑΡΜΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΝΙΤΕΣ. Για μια ακόμη χρονιά συνεχίστηκε η κερδοφορία τόσο σε εταιρικό, όσο και σε ενοποιημένο επίπεδο.

Αναλυτικότερα, σε ότι αφορά τον Όμιλο για το οικονομικό έτος 2018 ο Κύκλος Εργασιών ανήλθε σε 120 εκ. ευρώ με EBITDA 70 εκ. ευρώ, ενώ τα αντίστοιχα νούμερα για το 2017 ήταν 107 εκ. ευρώ και 60,5 εκ. ευρώ. Για την Εταιρεία οι πωλήσεις του έτους 2018 ανήλθαν σε 81 εκ. ευρώ το 2017 και ο EBITDA διαμορφώθηκε αντίστοιχα από 42,2 εκ. ευρώ σε 41 εκ. ευρώ.

Είναι προφανές ότι η βέλτιστη διαχείριση των δύο παγκοσμίου φήμης λευκών δολομιτικών μαρμάρων ARISTON&SIVEC, καθώς και οι συνέργειες που προέκυψαν από την εξαγορά της MERMEREN άρχισαν να αποδίδουν τα αναμενόμενα αποτελέσματα, τα οποία είχαν επισημανθεί από τη Διοίκηση κατά την εξαγορά.

Το όραμα, η πίστη, η επιμονή και η εξωστρέφεια (95% του Κ.Ε. σε εξαγωγές) συνεχίζουν να είναι οι κινητήριες δυνάμεις του στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού και αποφάσεων, οι οποίες συνέβαλαν στην καθιέρωση του Ομίλου ως  Leader του λευκού δολομιτικού μαρμάρου σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο.

Στόχος του Ομίλου παραμένει η αξιοποίηση ευκαιριών για ανάπτυξη. Ο Όμιλος σήμερα δραστηριοποιείται εκτός από την Ελλάδα, στην Βόρεια Μακεδονία και στην Αλβανία, ενώ πολύ σύντομα θα ξεκινήσουν εξορυκτικές διαδικασίες εκμετάλλευσης και στην Βουλγαρία, καθώς έχει οριστικοποιηθεί η εξαγορά λατομείου στην περιοχήΒράτσα. Το ιστορικό μάρμαρο της Βράτσα, το οποίο είναι γνωστό από αρχαιοτάτων χρόνων και έχει χρησιμοποιηθεί σε μνημειώδη έργα ανά τον κόσμο, συγκαταλέγεται στα ασβεστολιθικά διακοσμητικά μπεζ πετρώματα, που προορίζονται για εξωτερική χρήση, και αναμένεται να συμβάλλει στον εξαγωγικό στόχο της εταιρείας.

Επιπλέον, σημαντικές  επενδύσεις της εταιρείας κατά το 2019 αποτέλεσαν η εξαγορά& η έναρξη εξορυκτικής δραστηριότης δύο(2) λατομείων στην περιοχή του Αλιβερίου, στην Εύβοια. Ηγκρι απόχρωσή του με τη  λευκή βένακαι η ανθεκτικότητά του, αποτελούν τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά του συγκεκριμένου ασβεστιτικού μαρμάρου, που το καθιστά ως ένα κατεξοχήν υλικό έργων, το οποίο δύναται να ανταποκριθεί στις ανάγκες της ελληνικής αγοράς και όχι μόνο. Στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Δράμας ενεργοποιήθηκαν 2 λατομεία λευκού δολομιτικού μαρμάρου, στην περιοχή των Πύργων και των Πηγών αντίστοιχα, με αποδεδειγμένα υψηλά εκμεταλλεύσιμα αποθέματα (reserves).

Η διεύρυνση και ο εμπλουτισμός του portfolio του ομίλου με νέα υλικά, τον καθιστά ικανό να καλύψει τις ποικίλες ανάγκες της εγχώριας και εξωχώριας αγοράς σε  ποιότητα και τιμή.

Για την υλοποίηση του αναπτυξιακού πλάνου ο Όμιλος προγραμματίζει επενδύσεις για την επόμενη διετία τόσο σε μηχανήματα έργου, όσο και σε υπερσύγχρονο εξοπλισμό επεξεργασίας μαρμάρου, συνολικού κόστους 24 εκ. ευρώ, με το μεγαλύτερο ποσοστό να αξιοποιείται σε επενδύσεις στην MermerenKombinat. Στρατηγικοί πυλώνες παραμένουν οι επενδύσεις σε ανθρώπινο δυναμικό, η βελτιστοποίηση της παραγωγής του τελικού προϊόντος, καθώς και η διαφοροποίηση.

Τέλος, ο Όμιλος δε σταματά να επενδύει σε συνεχείς έρευνες νέων κοιτασμάτων στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό, καθώς και στην αξιοποίηση ευκαιριών για σύναψη στρατηγικών συνεργασιών.

Vladimir Putin’s interview to Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company

Vladimir Putin’s interview to Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company


Prior to visiting Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and Tajikistan to take part in the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, President Vladimir Putin answered the questions of Radik Batyrshin, President and Editor-in-chief of the Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company.
June 13, 2019
07:00
The Kremlin, Moscow
Interview to Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company.

Question: Good afternoon, Mr President.

I would like to thank you for agreeing to this interview. We are meeting ahead of your visit to Kyrgyzstan, where a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will take place.

Our television and radio company broadcasts in almost all SCO member states, except China. Therefore, we know that most of our viewers consider the SCO to be something positive.

At the same time, most of them do not know what it is and what its purpose is. Could you please explain in a few words what the SCO is and what objectives do Russia and its allies set for the organisation at the present stage?

Vladimir Putin: The SCO is an international organisation that was created in the mid-1990s. This was related to the need to settle border issues between Russia, China and several republics of the former Soviet Union: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

After that, when this work was successfully completed and brought good practical results, we came to a conclusion that this format should be preserved and that a new status should be given to it. Namely, the status of an organisation that would be charged with the development of relations in various areas and directions. This is what happened.

Thus, it was created, and then it turned out that its objectives and the problems it resolved were interesting to other countries in the region. Therefore, many states – 18, I think – joined the organisation as full members and observers, and the SCO became a serious and multifaceted regional organisation.

Question: The SCO was created at China’s initiative. Recently, at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, you spoke against the trade war that the United States is waging against the People’s Republic of China. You said that Russia is the smart monkey that sits on a tree and watches two tigers fight. What did you mean by that?

Vladimir Putin: Firstly, the SCO was created not at China’s initiative, but at the initiative of all countries that took part in the negotiations on the border issues I mentioned. But yes, Russia and China, together, were the main initiators. Other partners took equal part in both the work and the creation of the SCO.

As for trade wars and my joke, when I recalled this Chinese proverb, you probably did not notice what I said after that. I said that we live in a complex world. Since these proverbs were created, the situation has changed radically, and today relations between Russia and China have special importance for both our countries and the global community in general – I can say that without exaggerating.

In fact, to answer your question, we are talking about a dispute between the world’s largest economies. There are many specific issues related to the current work of the two states.

China is a huge factory manufacturing goods for the whole world, including the United States. The US deploys its production facilities there, creating jobs. At the same time, when China sells its goods in foreign markets, including significant exports to the American market, it stores a significant part of the forex proceeds in US securities. There are a lot of specific ties between the two countries.

And of course, common sense tells us that we have no reason to interfere in this negotiation process. But there is a small hitch, albeit a significant one. First of all, we truly have an unprecedentedly good and wholesome relationship with China. We truly are strategic partners in every sense of the word. We cooperate in the economy, the humanitarian sphere, and at the regional level, and there is cooperation between our Foreign and Defence Ministries.






During interview to Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company.

We are making a significant contribution to the maintenance of universal peace and security – not only in the region where our states are located, but also in the world as a whole. We coordinate our activities as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Unfortunately, we cannot say anything of the kind about our relations with the US – they are in fact deteriorating, getting worse by the hour. In recent years, the current US administration has already taken several dozen decisions on sanctions with regard to Russia, I think.

On the contrary, our trade with China is growing, and has reached $108 billion. Last year, we set ourselves the target of reaching $100 billion, and we have already surpassed that at $108 billion.

I have very good and friendly relations with the leader of China, the President of the PRC. This also makes a significant contribution, as it creates an atmosphere of trust. And naturally, in these conditions, our sympathies are with our strategic partners – this much goes without saying.

This mainly happens because any action that undermines the international economic relations architecture that has been in place for decades is detrimental to all participants in economic activity; this is our profound conviction.

Therefore, we strongly hope that common sense will triumph in the end. I hope that with all our partners, including our American partners, the United States, we will be able to work out some constructive solutions during the upcoming G20 meeting, creating the necessary stable conditions for economic cooperation.

Question: From Kyrgyzstan you will go directly to Dushanbe, where the leaders of nearly half of the world will meet for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). What is the practical importance of this international format?

Vladimir Putin: It is a broad-based format created at the initiative of Kazakhstan’s first President, Nursultan Nazarbayev. It is an additional venue where regional leaders can meet to discuss the situation in the huge Asian region. It concerns the Middle East and South Asia.

There are many issues and problems in the region that require special attention, from the chronic Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Afghanistan, Iran and Iran’s nuclear programme, North Korea and its nuclear programme, and much more. There are very many issues for discussion.

Of course, we are concerned about the Middle East, but we are equally worried about Iran’s nuclear programme and North Korea. We are closely monitoring the developments in Afghanistan. I would like to say that we are energetically and, I believe, effectively collaborating on this issue with many countries, including the United States, which is running an operation and is responsible for the situation in Afghanistan.

We have been contributing to these efforts, and I strongly hope that our cooperation in this sphere will yield positive results. Overall, I would like to say again, concluding my answer with what I have said at the beginning, that there will be very many issues in the focus of our discussion.

Question: Speaking about Kazakhstan, the country has a new president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. What are your expectations of cooperation with the new leaders of Kazakhstan?

Vladimir Putin: To begin with, President Tokayev studied in Moscow and knows Russia very well. I have reasons to believe that this leader will definitely carry on the policy of the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the policy of rapprochement with Russia and the development of allied relations in all spheres, including industry, agriculture and the science-driven spheres such as space exploration.

We have several large projects. We strongly hope that all our plans will be implemented. I have no reason to expect any problems here.

On the contrary, I believe that the increase in our mutual trade, which keeps growing, and the diversification of our ties will only improve the conditions for cooperation between our countries and also at the human level between our citizens.
Interview to Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company.

There are millions of contacts and ties between our people. This humanitarian aspect of our cooperation is extremely important. It covers social issues and everything else concerned with social security and so forth.

There are also infrastructure aspects that cover not simply bilateral but trilateral and quadrilateral relations. There are very ambitious, I would say, huge plans and projects. I am confident that they will be implemented.

Question: At the St Petersburg Econoic Forum, you gave your first assessment of Vladimir Zelensky’s actions as President of Ukraine. Now the new election campaign is in full swing there, this time to parliament. Does this mean that relations between Russia and Ukraine have once again been paused?

Vladimir Putin: I hope you do not mind, but I have to correct you a little. I gave no assessment of President Zelensky’s actions at the forum, because there have been no actions so far. I could not have done it because of this fact: he has just taken office.

I can judge by myself: it will take a lot of time to understand the tasks he is facing. I hope that he will adapt to his new office quite quickly.

Speaking about our interactions with Ukraine, I have said this many times and can repeat this once again, I believe there is no way around restoring our relations; it is inevitable. Things cannot stand the way they are now between two parts of the same nation or, rather, two brotherly nations.

This does not depend on our relations with the political elites of the past, for example, the people who put their personal success and their personal gain at the forefront of everything they did and their whole lives, along with the preservation of the fortune they amassed at the expense of the Ukrainian people and kept somewhere abroad. This is where their love for the West comes from, I suppose.

But I hope that the new leadership has no such limitations, and feels free relying on the trust the Ukrainians placed in the elected President, so it will be able to operate proactively and work towards restoring relations between Ukraine and Russia, as well as on solving domestic problems. It will not hide behind anti-Russian fabrications and ideas in order to evade internal Ukrainian problems, in the economy and social sphere above all.

Question: Mir also covers Moldova, Ukraine’s neighbour that is plagued by a political crisis, a full-fledged political crisis. How do you assess the political situation in Moldova?

Vladimir Putin: I think the situation in Moldova is not unique, by any means. But it is the most revealing, because the authorities in Moldova, as well as partly in Ukraine, were in the full and literal sense of the word usurped by oligarchic groups, by oligarchs, who brought all government agencies to heel – absolutely everything: the law-enforcement sphere, the parliament, you name it. That is, they made their fortunes at the expense of the Moldovan people and used them to improve their personal welfare and to put pressure on the state.

All that President Dodon and his recent opponents – pro-Western parties one could say – have done, after all, was actually a step towards building a full-fledged, civilised, modern state.

We will certainly support both President Dodon and his current coalition partners so that they eventually get rid of those people, to put it politely, who have usurped power in Moldova, and, despite some possible internal controversy, still find it in themselves to build joint work in the interests of the Moldovan state and the Moldovan people. And we will certainly support them.

Question: Many people refer to our Mir Television and Radio Company as the core of the common information space in the CIS. How do you see the prospects for the development of our common information space?

Vladimir Putin: This is a very important sphere.

First, it must be open, this space. There should be a minimal number of restrictions. And if there are any, they should be prompted exclusively by security reasons or some generally recognised elements of morality, I should say.

In general, this information space should be as open as possible, so that all sources of information are protected, respected and can work effectively. Moreover, the less politicised they are, the better. Information should be spread freely – I mean freedom not in the interests of those who spread it, but in the interests of the citizens who use this information.

I strongly hope that the presentation of the content will be interesting, creative and meaningful, and all citizens of our countries will be able to use it to better understand each other, to understand what is happening with their neighbours and to study the best practices that are used in our states to implement them at home.