14 January 2014, Moscow (Москва)

Deeply Respected Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would first of all like to take this opportunity to again thank President Putin for having given us the opportunity to conduct today's negotiations, and I wish him good luck for the organisation of the Olympics. We are most grateful for the efforts President Putin has made to ensure that future criteria relating to the relationship between Central Europe and Russia, and especially the relationship between Hungary and Russia, are the subject of attention. We have expressed our special appreciation to President Putin for the work that Russian diplomacy has undertaken throughout the world in the interests of Christian communities. With regard to economic issues, Russian-Hungarian economic relations are of extreme importance with respect to both the present and future of Hungary; they are of strategic significance. I would like to thank the experts and government policy advisors for the work they have performed during the past year, which is embodied by an increase in trade turnover. It is in Hungary's interests for Russia to be involved in increasing numbers of investment projects in Hungary, an accordingly we have agreed with President Putin that, in various forms, we shall encourage the presence of Russian industry in Hungary. With regard to cooperation on nuclear energy, I must tell you that we inherited few good things from communism, but the Soviet-Hungarian Energy Agreement concluded in 1966 is one of the good legacies. This agreement has created the conditions for the continued existence and further reinforcement of Russian-Hungarian cooperation on atomic energy. We have concluded an excellent professional agreement, which we will be happy to put before Hungarian Parliament for adoption. Negotiations concerning the financing of the realisation of the project are moving ahead nicely, are going according to schedule and shall continue. Hungary is committed to the South Stream [gas pipeline], we shall fulfil the obligations we have undertaken in the agreement and I would like to confirm once again to President Putin that we are working to achieve a long-term, friendly cooperation with Russia, and accordingly we are waiting to welcome in September those 200 Russian students who will be receiving state scholarships to study in Hungary from the Hungarian Government.

Thank you again for your cooperation, Mr. President!

(Prime Minister’s Office)