VLADIMIR PUTIN CONGRATULATES HIS COLLEAGUES ON NEW YEAR

Yerevan, December 28. ArmInfo. President of Russia Vladimir Putin
has congratulated the presidents and the prime ministers of foreign
countries on the upcoming New Year holidays.

In his congratulation message to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan,
Vladimir Putin says that the year 2006 was significant with the rich
program of Armenia’s Year in Russia. This large-scale humanitarian
project fully contributed to further development of Russian-Armenian
strategic partnership. By combined efforts, the parties managed
to raise the bar of political dialogue even higher, to strengthen
the foundation of mutual understanding and mutually advantageous
cooperation in all spheres.

In his message to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Vladimir Putin
stresses that the rise of the bilateral relations to a qualitatively
new level of strategic partnership meets the interests of the two
countries, serves to strengthening of peace and security in the South
Caucasus. The Russian President stressed the importance of the events
held under the program of Russia’s Year in Azerbaijan.

Addressing to President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili, Vladimir
Putin wished the Georgian people peace and welfare.

The Russian President congratulated also his Byelorussian, Kazakh,
Khyrghyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Ukranian counterparts, the Queen Elizabeth II,
Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair, President of France Jacques
Chirac, President and Federal Chancellor of Germany, President of
India, President and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Italy,
General Governor and Prime Minister of Canada, Chairman of the
People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao. Congratulating U.S. President
George Bush, Vladimir Putin said that the countries achieved success
in a number of direction of Russian-American relations in 2006,
including the completion of the negotiations for Russia’s admission
to WTO. President of Russia expressed hope that the dynamic work on
accumulation of the cooperation potential will be continued also in
the coming year that will mark the 200th anniversary of diplomatic
relations of the countries.