"President Gasparovic and I had a detailed discussion of European and global developments. He informed me about certain problems of the emergent new Europe," said Russia's President.
"We value Slovakia's balanced stances on key world and European issues," he went on.
"Russia and Slovakia are both working to buttress the United Nations' central role in maintaining global stability and security," Mr. Putin emphatically added.
"Slovakia is paying smaller attention to Russia now that it has joined the European Union and NATO. What does Russia think of it, and what can be done about it?" asked a reporter.
"Slovakia has one thing top compensate for it-that is the Slovak people's attitude to Russia," replied President Putin. "The Slovak nation is pragmatic in its stance on Russia. We are aware of it, and we hope this pragmatism will survive."
Slovakia will seek for new legal ways of partnership with Russia, President Gasparovic said, in his turn.
While in summitry, the two Presidents had discussed Russia-EU relations. As President Putin pointed out, exports to the European Union roughly account for a half of the Russian trade turnover, added Slovakia's President.
