Medvedev would like RF, EU to cancel visas by 2018 Soccer World Cup.

KRASNAYA POLYANA, December 4 (Itar-Tass) -- By the upcoming 2018
Soccer World Cup it would be good to completely abolish visas between
Russia and the EU, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the media on
Friday following consultations with Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi on Friday.
Commenting on the Russian-Italian relations in the field of soccer,
and, in particular, the work of the Italian coach Luciano Spalletti at St.
Petersburg's football club FC Zenit, Medvedev said that he had been a fan
of that team all his life.
"Now it has achieved some good results. True, this draws different
comments, but that is normal. It would be a disaster, if the whole country
were a supporter of Zenit."
Further, he added another remark regarding Thursday's decision by FIFA
to award to Russia the right to host the Soccer World Cup in 2018.
"We would like to actually create a special atmosphere during the Cup.
I believe that in this situation we must make substantial progress on
visas towards each other. It would be very advisable to cancel visas
between Russia and the European Union by that time, and I know that Silvio
(Berlusconi) support me in this," he said.
"We are very grateful to our Italian friends for that. Let us see how
it all goes. But in any case for those who will go to see the Cup here
tickets and visas will be identical terms," he promised.

.Russian PM, Qatar's Emir congratulate each other upon world cup bid
wins.

MOSCOW, December 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin and Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani had a telephone
conversation on Friday, the prime minister's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Putin congratulated Al-Thani upon Qatar's win of the right to host
the Soccer World Cup in 2022 and wished him successful preparations for
the upcoming competition. In turn, the Emir of Qatar spoke highly of
Russia's plans for the 2018 World Cup presented in Zurich and also
congratulated Putin upon Russia's victory," Peskov told reporters.
"Putin and Al-Thani agreed to continue contacts in preparations for
the world cups, and for the further development of bilateral relations,"
said the spokesman.
Also, Peskov said there was a substantive exchange of views on various
issues related to cooperation in the field of culture and energy between
Russia and Qatar.
"Putin and Al-Thani agreed to continue Russian-Qatari contacts at the
government level," the prime minister's press secretary said.

.Chechnya offers Grozny for 2018 Soccer World Cup matches.

GROZNY, December 4 (Itar-Tass) -- The Chechen Republic has offered its
capital Grozny as the venue of some matches of the Soccer World Cup in
2018, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov told reporters on Friday. He
congratulated all people of Russia on this great event.
"The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place in our country. One feels
double pleasure at the thought our country on the eve of the voting showed
tact did its utmost to avoid creating a pretext for talk about some
psychological pressures on FIFA members," said Kadyrov.
He recalled that in Grozny the construction of a sports complex
meeting international standards was nearing completion. This stadium can
host matches of the highest level.
"Naturally, we shall be asking to choose our city as the venue of
individual matches. Soccer is loved in the North Caucasus. The sport has
its own traditions and its own audience here. And I am sure that if a
positive decision is made, it will be possible to draw into the football
teams of all levels many thousands of teenagers and young men," Kadyrov
said. "In any event, a great holiday has come to our country."

-0-str