The ban on the import of certain categories of agricultural products, raw materials and food has been extended from 1 January until 31 December 2018.

Reference

The document was prepared in keeping with the Russian President’s Executive Order No 293 of 30 June 2017 on Extending Certain Special Economic Measures to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation.

The directive approves amendments to Government Resolution No 778 of 7 August 2014 on Measures to Implement the Russian President’s Executive Orders No 560 of 6 August 2014, No 320 of 24 June 2015 and No 305 of 29 June 2016.

The ban on the import of certain categories of agricultural products, raw materials and food from the US, EU member countries, Canada, Australia, Norway, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein has been extended from 1 January until 31 December 2018.

These restrictions are designed to expand the special economic countermeasures against certain states based on the extent of their involvement in the sanctions regime against Russia.

The agenda included current issues of bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, industry, transport infrastructure and agriculture.

Excerpts from the transcript:

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

4 July 2017

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

4 July 2017

Предыдущая новость Следующая новость

Meeting with President of China Xi Jinping

Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, your visit is yet another contribution to the strengthening of our strategic partnership and cooperation. I am confident  your visit will help to further improve our relations, which have already reached an unprecedentedly high level.

Our governments continue to cooperate, and we meet regularly. Last year, we met in St Petersburg, and this year I hope to visit your wonderful country for intergovernmental talks.

Xi Jinping: We are pleased at the positive development of the Russian economy and social stability in the country.

President Vladimir Putin recently visited Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum, during which we agreed to strengthen our relations in the new situation. We agreed to boost regional economic integration, the parties’ economic globalisation, openness, inclusiveness, common benefit, balance and mutual success in order to stand together against global economic problems.

Our relations have always been a foreign policy priority for China. We are confident of our cooperation with Russia against global challenges. China and Russia should expand and deepen their cooperation in the spirit of mutual support and openness in order to create conditions for the joint development and revival of our countries and also to give a powerful boost towards stronger peace and stable development in the world as a whole. 

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Dmitry Medvedev’s speech at the ceremony:

The memorial ceremony for former Federal Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl

1 July 2017

The memorial ceremony for former Federal Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl

1 July 2017

An entry in the Book of Condolences

1 July 2017

Предыдущая новость Следующая новость

The memorial ceremony for former Federal Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl

Esteemed Mrs Kohl-Richter, Esteemed family members of Helmut Kohl,  Ladies and gentlemen,

We are here today to bid farewell to Helmut Kohl, the man who was rightly called the creator of the united Germany and the architect of the united Europe. In truth, he was also the architect of the current world order.

Helmut Kohl was a man of magnitude in every sense of this word, a man of big ideas and big plans. He was one of the leaders who make epochs change. A great deal of what he managed to achieve in 16 years as Chancellor had been deemed impossible by his contemporaries. Today we say: “It was impossible to do it any other way.” This means he was able to choose the only correct way for history to follow. In this sense Helmut Kohl was truly a man of the future.

He opened the era of unity for the German people. A whole new generation has grown up in this new Germany. Back then, as my colleagues speaking before me said, not everyone accepted it. But Helmut Kohl knew very well what war is. He witnessed it as a teenager and devoted many years of his life to help build Europe that was not divided in any way: neither by trench lines, nor by borders or warring ideologies. Helmut Kohl, the great politician, was well aware that he could reunite his own country only by overcoming the split within Europe.

My country, Russia, was always a reliable partner to him on this road. Our nations had and have a particularly deep understanding of the dangers of confrontation and the value of peace. This allowed yesterday’s foes to start building relations based on mutual respect, equality and trust. Helmut Kohl personally did a great deal for our relations to become the best they have ever been in history. And Russia greatly appreciates this. 

Helmut Kohl succeeded in the most important achievement of his life. He was always a real national leader yet he thought and acted in the common European and global context. He dreamed not only of a unified Germany but also of a united Europe. And he saw Russia as its inalienable part.

It was a dream of a common home devoid of barbed wire, fear and hostility that used to divide the continent. A dream of peace and security for all. When an individual, his or her ideas, and, of course, shared values, cooperation and trust are placed above nations, above borders and states.

It is impossible to put a full stop in the construction of such a common home, impossible to say that everything has finally been done ideally well. This requires everyday efforts from all.

The Berlin Wall has long been taken apart and made into souvenirs. But its ideological fragments are sill scattered around the world. We must admit that due to our contradictions we are still far from realising the dream of a common home.

Nevertheless, the united, safe and prosperous Europe remains our shared goal. Helmut Kohl proved in much harder times than today that this goal is attainable. Today’s leaders have the responsibility of being true followers of his efforts.

Ladies and gentlemen, the life and work of the German Unity Chancellor evoke respect around the world and will continue to do so. In Russia he will be remembered as our friend, a wise and insightful politician, a very open and sincere person. Allow me once again to express on behalf of the Russian Federation the most heartfelt condolences over the passing of Germany’s great son, Helmut Kohl.

The Prime Minister and the Chinese President will discuss current issues concerning bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, industry, transportation infrastructure as well as agriculture.

The Chinese President will be visiting Russia at the invitation of the Russian President. 

From Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks at the Government meeting.

Excerpts from the transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: Yesterday the European Union decided to extend sanctions against Russia. We regret that our European partners continue this short-sighted policy towards Russia. Politics have again taken the upper hand over the economy and, ultimately, over common sense.

We will have to respond in kind to this situation. Yesterday we discussed this matter with the President, and the Government will now submit a proposal asking him to extend the response measures for one more year, until 31 December 2018.

Our position is public knowledge and it has not changed: the policy of mutual economic restrictions does not have a future, yet we have to respond to protect our national interests and to protect a very important sector of the Russian economy –response measures are designed to protect our agriculture industry. Our farmers have asked us more than once to extend these measures and also to outline the perspective for their activities in the near future. We are doing this now, and I am confident that our farmers will be able to use these favourable opportunities to the full.