"We have an extensive playing field for joint activity," the Russian president said.
He said Russian-Greek relations are politically at the highest level now. "I am convinced that this state of affairs corresponds to Russia's and Greece's interests, and those of peace and stability not only in South-East Europe, but throughout the European continent," Mr. Putin said.
Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis, in his turn, remarked that Russia and Greece are countries called upon to promote stability in the Balkans.
He also underscored that Mr. Putin described Greece as Russia's strategic partner. "This fact is in line with the relations existing between our countries," said Mr. Karamanlis.
Documents to be signed during the meeting will make a positive contribution to political dialogue across the board, the Greek prime minister said.
Russia's Science and Education Minister Andrei Fursenko, attending the negotiations, believes that Russia and Greece, as they develop humanitarian cooperation, will have to think of alleviating the visa regime.
He said that before the end of the year he is to meet with the Greek ambassador in Moscow to ventilate this matter.
"We will start energetically developing humanitarian contacts, and that will raise the issue of easier visas," Mr. Fursenko told reporters before Russian-Greek talks opened in their enlarged format.
Speaking of scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Fursenko said that Russia and Greece are working on more than 20 joint projects in this area now.
He singled out particularly a joint neutrino project.
"The ministry's role lies in helping, rather than preventing, co-financing of projects on the Russian behalf," Mr. Fursenko said.
He expressed the hope that more people would be studying Russian in Greece. "Apart from traditional economic issues, which are discussed in the inter-governmental commission [Mr. Fursenko is its Russian co-chairman], we want to focus more on humanitarian aspects," Mr. Fursenko said.
