Russian President Putin calls for closer cooperation with Sri Lanka

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for closer cooperation with Sri Lanka.

Putin said that Russia maintains traditionally friendly relations with Sri Lanka and?is interested in?closer trade and?economic cooperation, including in?fishery, agriculture and?tourism.

“I?would like to?note that in?September we signed a?bilateral intergovernmental agreement on?military cooperation,” he added.

The Russian President made the comments after accepting the credentials from Dayan Jayatilleka as Sri Lanka’s new Ambassador to Russia yesterday (Thursday).

Dr. Jayatilleka presented his Letters of Credence in a solemn ceremony bringing together the newly-appointed Ambassadors of 23 countries in the magnificent St. Alexandre’s Hall of the Kremlin.

The credentials were received by President Putin, accompanied by Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Yury Ushakov, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Russian President.

“Today we need diplomacy to?play an?active and?constructive role, to?use the?power of?words, negotiations and?compromise to?make a?tangible contribution to?overcoming the?current difficulties in?international affairs and?searching for?responses to?new challenges and?threats,” the Russian President said after meeting the new envoys.

He said Russia is dedicated to?a?peaceful policy and?progressively carries out a?responsible course in?foreign policy.

“As?a?permanent member of?the?Security Council, Russia defends the?basic principles stipulated in?the?UN Charter: sovereignty and?equality of?states and?non-interference in?their domestic affairs. We stand against using politically motivated protectionism measures and?sidestepping the?norms of?international law,” the Ambassador said.

He said that Russia?s active participation in?global affairs and?openness to?mutually beneficial partnerships with all countries and?regions are motivated by?our main national interest: to?create the?most favourable conditions possible for?Russia to?develop dynamically, to?achieve ambitious social and?economic goals and?improve our citizens? quality of?life.

Putin said that Russians want to?live in?peace and they want Russia to?be a?strong and?independent state. (Colombo Gazette)