ST. PETERSBURG,
Russia (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said after Friday's
talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that a prospective
Russian natural gas pipeline should help Greece service its debt, but
the Kremlin said the question of direct Russian financial aid to Greece
was not discussed.
Speaking of the pipeline
deal at a meeting with top executives of global news agencies, including
The Associated Press, which began nearly three hours behind schedule at
around midnight, Putin said he saw no support for the Greeks from the
EU.
"If EU wants Greece to pay its debts it
should be interested in growing the Greek economy ... helping it pay its
debts," he said. "The EU should be applauding us. What's wrong with
creating jobs in Greece?"
Greece is struggling
to reach a deal with its creditors for new loans that it needs to avoid
defaulting on debt payments at the end of the month. Without the
bailout, Greece could be headed for bankruptcy or an exit from the
19-nation eurozone.
Tsipras' visit gave rise
to speculation that the Greeks may be seeking Russian loans - and ahead
of the talks, Putin's spokesman said Russia would consider a loan if the
Greeks asked for one.
"We would do this
because they are our partners and this is a normal practice between
countries who are partners," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told The Associated
Press.
But when Tsipras met with Putin at the
sidelines of a major economic forum in St.Petersburg, the possibility
of a loan wasn't discussed, Peskov told journalists. Instead, they spoke
about "the necessity of developing investment cooperation."
Russia
and Greece signed a deal Friday to build an extension of a prospective
gas pipeline that would carry Russian gas to Europe through Turkey.
Russia promised Greece hundreds of millions of dollars in transit
payments yearly if it agreed to build the pipeline. Construction of the
pipeline is expected to start next year and be completed in 2019.
Russian
Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Russia and Greece would be equal
partners in the project, with Russia's half owned by the state bank VEB.
The
talks were held after both leaders addressed investors and Russian
government officials at Russia's biggest annual economic forum.
Putin said little about Greece, although he slipped in a joke about its predicament.
"When
Mr. Tsipras spoke, he said the problem of Greece was not a Greek
problem but a European one. Well, that's right. If you owe someone a
lot, then it is already not your problem but the problem of the one you
owe - and that's an absolutely correct approach," Putin said.
Tsipras said his country strove to be a "bridge of cooperation" with "traditional friends like Russia" and others.
"As
you all know, we are now in the middle of a great storm," the Greek
leader said. "But we are a seafaring nation that knows how to navigate
through storms and is not afraid of heading to new seas and reaching new
harbors."
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich also had said Russia would consider a loan to Greece.
"The
most important things for us are investment projects and trade with
Greece. If financial support is needed, we will consider this question,"
he said in an interview on RT television.
Economic
Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said during a forum session that
Russia has no plans to buy Greek bonds, but is ready support the Greek
economy by stimulating investment by Russian companies. He pointed to
the gas pipeline as an example.
Tsipras
started his day by speaking to Russians of Greek ancestry at a memorial
to Ioannis Kapodistrias, the founder of the modern Greek state who lived
and worked in Russia as a Greek envoy from 1809 to 1822.
"We
are starting a new era in Greek-Russian relations and we consider you
who live here to be playing a very important part in this effort,"
Tsipras said.
"Greece has been waging a brave
fight in these past few weeks and months. You are well aware of these
types of difficulties and you are now standing on your feet," he added.
"This is the key characteristic of the Greek people, to be able to
overcome difficulties when right is on their side."
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Kate dePury in St. Petersburg, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Lynn Berry and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed reporting.
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