PRESS RELEASE

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Putin Calls for the Big Eurasian Partnership

Oct. 13, 2016 (EIRNS)—Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for a big Eurasian Partnership in an interview with Sputnik.

"In this context, we also proposed that work on establishing the Eurasian Economic Union should be integrated with that on the Silk Road Economic Belt. This process could eventually provide a basis for the Big Eurasian Partnership that would involve a wide range of states of the Eurasian Economic Union, the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] and ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations],"

Putin said.

He stressed that such partnership would be open for accession by all countries concerned and would be built on the principles of transparency and mutual respect. "The BRICS cooperation potential may also be used to implement this initiative. We look forward to the support from India, which is earnestly interested in this proposal."