MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - In order to establish good relations between Russia and Europe, it is necessary to get rid of phobias and conduct honest dialogue, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Only one thing is important here: it is necessary to approach dialogue with one another honestly; we need to get rid of past phobias, [and we need to] stop using in internal political processes all the issues that we inherited from the past centuries and look toward the future," Putin said on Wednesday, responding to a question after speaking at the economic forum in Davos, which was held via video link.
"If we can rise above all these problems, get rid of these phobias, we will undoubtedly reach a positive stage in our relations, and we're ready for that. We will strive for it," he said.
"But love is impossible if it is declared by one side only," Putin said.
There are fundamental things, "a common culture," in Russia-Europe relations, he said.
Leading European figures have spoken about the need to develop relations between Europe and Russia, saying that "Russia is part of Europe, geographically and, most importantly, in the cultural sense of the word," Putin said.
"Essentially, it's one civilization. French leaders have spoken about the need to create a unified space from Lisbon to the Urals. I believe and I have also said, why to the Urals - to Vladivostok," he said.
The Russian president said the current situation in Russia-Europe relations is "clearly not normal." "We need to go back to a positive agenda. Russia is interested in that. And I am certain that European countries are interested in that, as well," Putin said.
Europe and Russia are absolutely natural partners in terms of economic relations, he said.