Medvedev to meet Azerbaijani, French leaders at Petersburg forum

MOSCOW, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will
arrive in St.Petersburg on Thursday, which will host the 14th
international economic forum. Aside from participation in forum events,
the head of the Russian state will hold a series of meetings with his
colleagues from foreign states. He will chair a meeting of the state
commission on modernization and technological development of the Russian
economy and hand in the Global Energy prize.
Medvedev will begin the program of work in St Petersburg, his native
city, by addressing political issues ahead of economic ones. Upon his
arrival in Russia's second larges city, he will meet with Azerbaijan
President Ilkham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan. The
parties will discuss the Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
It will be sixth tripartite meeting between the leaders of Russia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia. The first took place in Barvikha on November 2,
2008, the second in St.Petersburg on June 4, 2009, on the sidelines of the
Petersburg economic forum. The previous tripartite consultations were held
in Sochi on January 25, 2010.
On Friday, June 18, Medvedev will open the main program of the forum
at the plenary meeting. Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said it would
be devoted to post-crisis development of the world economy.
"The president's program includes several meetings with the business
community. Medvedev is expected to meet with representatives of energy
companies after the Global Energy session, at which the future of the
market of natural gas will be discussed. Next, the head of state will have
talks with executives of the world's largest financial companies that will
be on the consultative council for forming an international financial
center in Moscow. Then, he will meet with technological companies, whose
executives will enter the Council of the managing company of the Skolovo
Foundation," Dvorkovich said.
Also on Friday, Medvedev will participate in the ceremony to award the
Global Energy Prize. It is an independent scientific award for fundamental
research and inventions providing new opportunities in the development of
power generation.
It was founded in November 2002, and the first award-giving ceremony
took place in St.Petersburg on June 15, 2003. More than 20 scientists from
eight countries, half of them Russians, have become its laureates since.
On June 19, the president will chair a meeting of the commission on
modernization and technological development of the Russian economy.
Medvedev announced the date of the next meeting of the commission in May.
"The floor of the Petersburg international economic forum should
become a place to discuss the innovation theme; hopefully, our foreign
partners will participate in the discussion of these issues," the Russian
president said then.
Dvorkovich said the commission would consider foreign economic policy
issues and its role in the technological modernization and innovation
development.
The observer council of the managing company of the Skolkovo
innovation project will meet immediately thereafter. Dvorkovich believes
it will be the starting point for full-fledged work on the Skolkovo
project.
"The Russian president is scheduled to meet French leader Nicolas
Sarkozy, who will arrive in St Petersburg on Saturday. The leaders will
take part in a plenary session devoted to the rethinking of global
development," the presidential aide said.
Medvedev and Sarkozy will participate in a meeting of Russian and
French business circles to discuss joint initiatives, and investment and
innovation projects.
"We expect the French president to announce the coordinator of French
companies' participation in the Skolkovo projects," Dvorkovich added.
According to the aide, Russia may allocate up to 10 billion roubles
for the projects implemented by the presidential commission on
modernization and technological development.
In 2010, ten billion roubles were envisioned for the purpose. Of
those, five have already been earmarked for 38 projects the commission had
approved.
"The rest of the money will be spent on the Skolkovo innovation
project which starts this year. The Skolkovo project may draw another 15
billion roubles of budget money next year," Dvorkovich said.
On Saturday evening, the Russian and French leaders will have
bilateral talks. Other bilateral contacts of the Russian leaders are
planned on the sidelines of the forum. Medvedev is due to meet with
Macedonia's president, the secretary general of the League of Arab States
and prime ministers of several countries.
-0-myz