Vladimir Putin

By MAIKA BOLATIKI

The Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will be meeting President Vladimir Putin during his State Visit to Russia.
This was confirmed to the Fiji Sun yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lieutenant-Colonel Pio Tikoduadua.
“It has now been confirmed from Russia that the Prime Minister will be meeting President Putin during his State Visit to Russia,” Lieutenant-Colonel Tikoduadua said.
The Prime Minister’s State Visit to Russia will be June 25-30.
A release from the Ministry of Information yesterday confirmed that at this stage, a detailed programme for the visit had yet to be finalised.
In an earlier interview with Non-Resident Ambassador accredited to Russia Isikeli Mataitoga, he confirmed that a delegation from the Tourism Industry would also accompany the Prime Minister.
According to Ambassador Mataitoga, the Prime Minister will be meeting with his Russian counterpart, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on June 27.
On June 28 he will be chief guest at a tourism convention.
The Prime Minister’s State Visit will also coincide with the Rugby World Cup 7s in June 28-30 in Moscow.
In January this year when the Russian Ambassador to Fiji, Vladimir Morozov paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister, he gave his assurance that Russia “is ready to provide Fiji 7s team the best of our hospitality during the IRB 7s World Cup.”
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov in his meeting with the Prime Minister during his visit said that Russia was interested in working with the Pacific Islands in the areas of investment, minerals, energy, tourism, education and medicine.
Ambassador Mataitoga said a Government delegation would also be accompanying the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile during his visit to Fiji last January Russia’s Ambassador based in Australia had said that Russia aimed to develop relations with Fiji.
He said Russia’s primary intention was to intensify relations in a vast range of spheres including trade, energy, mining, transport, fisheries, education, health and tourism with Fiji and other Pacific islands.