Russia, SKorea civil societies should contribute in bilateral ties.

SEOUL, November 10 (Itar-Tass) - The civil societies of Russia and
South Korea can make a tangible contribution in the development of
interstate relations. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed
confidence about this opportunity at a meeting of the Russian-South Korean
forum "Dialogue of the Civil Societies" here on Wednesday.
"The civil societies can and should contribute in the development of
interstate relations," the Russian leader stated. "We should help to the
politicians. The contacts between nonpublic organizations, businesses,
universities are the essence of our current interstate relations,"
Medvedev noted. "I hope that your first forum will set an inspiring
example for further cooperation. We with the South Korean president will
try to help you," he added.
Medvedev also expressed hope that all the wishes made at the forum
will be fulfilled. "Some ideas require a more profound consideration,
everything is easier with the business projects - the political willpower
and financial instruments are needed," the Russian president noted.
Medvedev urged the citizens of the countries to be more interested in
the studies of the culture in the countries. He recalled about the results
of a sociological survey held in Russia and South Korea, rector of the St.
Petersburg State University Nikolai Kropachev said in his speech. The
public opinion poll showed that the Koreans are confident that the major
drink in Russia is vodka and the Koreans eat only Korean carrot in South
Korea. "I would not refuse from those products that were called: both
products are in the national cuisines. However, neither of them makes the
essence of the cuisine," the Russian president pointed out.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed with Medvedev on the need
to broaden cultural cooperation and the cooperation between the civil
societies. "We are aware that the Russians like vodka and the Koreans
cannot live without kimchi (Korean carrot salad)," he supported his
Russian counterpart. "But it is necessary to broaden our exchanges between
the peoples in order to share the culture and traditions with each other
so that we would understand each other quite well," he believes.
"We have no problems in the cooperation with Russia, our cooperation
is mutually complementary," the South Korean president said. In his view,
Russia has an enormous potential of resources and the highest level of
fundamental science, while South Korea can offer the commercialization
technologies of new developments. "We need each other, we will have no
conflicts in the future, we will be able to develop the dialogue and to
achieve concrete results," the South Korean president stated. "I am
confident that our forum will make the backbones of the cooperation
between the countries in the future, and the South Korean government is
ready to assist in every way to the work of the forum," he added.
-0-baz/gor