Kremlin. News

Our bilateral relations are built on a long-standing and good tradition. Although our trade is limited, Qatar remains one of the key partners in Rosneft, our leading oil company. It has also invested approximately one billion dollars in our economy through the Russian Direct Investment Fund. And I am confident that even greater opportunities lie ahead.

I reiterate: we are facing large-scale and systemic challenges here in the Arctic, in this strategic region that is important to us. We need to enhance transportation and logistics infrastructure and expand economic and business opportunities, and we must protect the vulnerable ecosystems of the Arctic. We need to consistently improve the urban environment, develop the settlements in the Far North, and generally enhance the quality of life for people, so that they have interesting and well-paid jobs as well as access to state-of-the-art education and healthcare and so that living in the Arctic becomes really comfortable and attractive.

We have always been up for equal cooperation in the region, including scientific research, biodiversity conservation, climate issues, emergency response, and obviously economic and industrial development of the Arctic. We are ready to cooperate not just with Arctic states, but with anyone who, just like ourselves, shares the responsibility for a stable and sustainable future for our planet and is able to take balanced decisions that look ahead for decades.

The Kiev regime's reckless gamble has completely failed, and the enormous casualties the enemy has suffered, especially among the Ukrainian units that were the most battleworthy and best trained and had Western equipment — and we are talking about assault and special forces units here, — will definitely have an impact along the entire length of the line of contact. The total rout of the enemy in the border zone of the Kursk region sets the stage for further successful operations of our troops in other crucial areas of the frontline and brings us closer to the defeat of the neo-Nazi regime.

I would like to congratulate all the personnel, all the soldiers and commanders on this success, their victory. I thank you for your valour and heroism, for your service to our Fatherland and the people of Russia.

The great feast of Easter brings us love and hope, faith in goodness and justice, and unites us around enduring spiritual and moral ideals. During these festive days, I would like to note with deep appreciation that today, as throughout history, the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations play an important and inspiring role in strengthening social accord and mutual understanding, in educating the younger generations, and in upholding family values.

I would like to thank you for this visit, Your Highness. It was very substantive, and, I think, very useful for promoting relations between our countries. I would like to thank your entire delegation for the considerable amount of preparatory work. I am confident that all the goals we have set will be achieved. Shukran.

Pope Francis was held in great respect internationally as a devoted servant of the Christian faith, a wise religious leader and statesperson, and a firm defender of the eminent values of humanism and justice. Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis actively promoted the dialogue between the Catholic and the Russian Orthodox churches, as well as constructive interaction between Russia and the Holy See.

I had many opportunities to converse with this outstanding man, and I will remember him fondly forever.