Greek PM hopes for boost in ties with Russia

Greek Prime Minister Alexios Tsipras said on Wednesday that he expects that his visit to Russia will give a boost to bilateral ties, TASS news agency reported.

"The aim of my visit is that we jointly try to give a new start to our relations in the best interests of the two peoples," the prime minister said in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The development of bilateral ties will contribute to stability and security in the region, he noted.

Putin said he hoped the talks with the Greek prime minister would help restore the former pace in trade that slumped by 40 percent last year.

"Your visit could not have come at a better time, as we must analyse what we together could do to restore the former rate of growth," Putin said.

He said up until recently Russia had been number one on the list of Greece's trade and economic partners.

"From 2009 to 2013, trade between our countries grew more than two-fold," the president said.

Receiving the Greek prime minister at the Kremlin, Putin said he was glad to meet him ahead of Orthodox Easter.

"This is our mutual holiday," he said, marking spiritual roots shared by the two countries.