Australia created most comfortable environment for G20 summit in Brisbane — Putin

MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/. Australia created the most comfortable conditions for the G20 summit in Brisbane, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a forum of the All-Russia People’s Front on Tuesday. “I know the way it was covered in the media, I heard the echo. I’ve seen statements by my Australian counterpart. I would like to say that in practice there had been nothing of the sort. The Australian partners created an extremely friendly environment for work. Cordial, I should say, and very good for the search for solutions to the problems the world economy is faced with,” Putin said. He remarked that it was a pleasant surprise for him to see the warm reception given by Australian citizens on the streets of Brisbane. “I can find no explanation for this, but it was really so. There was much applause and other friendly gestures. There were crowds of ordinary people on the streets, and I am very grateful to them,” Putin said. As he dwelt on comments reportedly made by his Australian counterpart, Putin did not rule out that there might have been “an attempt to fan tensions.” “In real life and work there was nothing of the sort. We had very constructive discussions of not only the themes that had brought us together, but of some very grave issues involving the Malaysian Boeing. We discussed that in every detail. May I assure you, that everything had been decent and rather friendly,” Putin said. The discussions at the G20 summit did not go beyond the bounds of the official agenda. Putin explained why he had decided against going to the last breakfast on the closing day. All scheduled routine had been accomplished by then. As Putin said, Russia’s position on the discussed problem was explained and heard. “Moreover, there are certain things that we are going to implement in our internal legislation,” he added. Putin explained once again that he had left the summit a little earlier than planned because he was to take a 21-hour-long flight back home. “Possibly I made a longer journey than anybody else of those present,” he said. Also, he was reluctant to spend too much time waiting in line for departure. Such queues are inevitable after such international summits. “Lastly, I know the way it happens: 20 people or more, and the departures follow in alphabetic order. It was better to take an early leave,” he said. Read more