Andrey Kolesnikov about the meeting of Vladimir Putin with Anvar Ibrahim
On May 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anvar Ibrahim, and Kommersant Special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov He found out who would go to Istanbul for negotiations and with whom. But it turned out that the main intrigue was kept at the very end, when the leaders of the two countries have already read out their inevitable statements.
While everyone on this day was manicly concerned about the prey of information about who would go to Istanbul for negotiations, Russian negotiators gathered in the green living room of the Kremlin to meet with the delegation of Malaysia.
Here were already the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the assistant to the president Yuri Ushakov, who, according to Kommersant, were not going anywhere anymore (although on the eve of the day no one knew anything to himself for sure). The level of the delegation in Istanbul was reduced before our eyes.
But the name of the person who will head the Russian delegation has not yet been announced, and the intrigue has been preserved. However, not Vladimir Putin. And I was already told about Vladimir Medinsky.
I liked this option, frankly, most of all. That is, negotiations interrupted in March 2022 in Istanbul continue. As part of the Russian delegation, Roman Abramovich (especially since he was seen on the eve of Moscow) and Leonid Slutsky. On the other hand, gentlemen Arahamia, Armovich and British prime minister, who at some point should interrupt these meaningless negotiations and force Ukraine to fight to the last soldier …
However, the unpredictability of the situation is such that even no independent observer would undertake the arrival of Vladimir Putin (however, there were no such people in the green living room of the Kremlin on this day).
It is interesting that here, in the green living room, another person attracted my attention – the head of Rosneft Igor Sechin. Like the entire previous week. The fact is that he was here, in negotiations, all five, it seems, holidays. Without it, it seems, not a single bilateral negotiations: neither with Venezuela, nor Burkina-Faso, nor with Zimbabwe … nor now, with Malaysia. Everyone needed him, that’s the matter. And at the same time he remained strangely unnoticed in the room.
No one said anything special to each other at a meeting in a narrow composition. And they did not wait.
-Mr. Prime Minister, I have a big request. Submit the best wishes to the supreme ruler Sultan Ibrahim. We are waiting for him on a visit to Russia, ”Mr. Putin asked his colleague.
They had lunch and came out with statements to journalists in the Malachite lobby of the Kremlin.
Yes, and the statements for the press would cost, it seemed, without sacrifice. But no.
We found out that « Russian-Malaysian relations are on the rise, are successfully and progressively and both sides are sincerely interested in ensuring that such interaction becomes even more substantial and productive. » It would seem, what else?
Yes, the presence of Igor Sechin became more obvious:
“The Malaysian oil and gas concern Petronas,” explained Vladimir Putin, “is part of Rosneft’s shareholder capital … Our country supplies significant volumes of oil products and coal to the Malaysian market …
Anvar Ibrahim admitted:
– I admire those connections that are between us, because I understand history, culture and a huge contribution to the literature and art, ballet, on which I was just not, because we have a very dense agenda.
Whatever it is, now they will clog the ballet for Anvar Ibrahim.
Malaysia Prime Minister, meanwhile, demonstrated that Russia would not regret his invitation to Moscow:
-We took a certain position in concerns Malaysia, Asean (it was apparently about the fact that ASEAN did not really decide on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.- A.K.). We ourselves will decide what is better for Malaysia and for her people! Therefore, we would like to establish cooperation, an alliance with the Russian Federation, to restore direct air travel between our countries. We believe that it is possible!
It looked commendable.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Malaysia, I would like to say the following that this is the biggest gift for the people of Malaysia, if the President of Russia can arrive in our country as soon as possible, for example, during the Asean summit in October,” added Anvar Ibrahim.
But what was Vladimir Putin to say for a couple of minutes? Why did he smile so strangely during a colleague’s speech? What was he suddenly remembered and decided not to hide? No, I just could not hide …
This became clear immediately after Angeriy Ibrahim finished.
The statement of the President of Russia became thundering. The walls of the Great Kremlin Palace did not hear anything like that.
“We really have very kind, trusting and friendly relations,” began Vladimir Putin. “Mr. Prime Minister said that he was interested in the history and culture of Russia. We are very appreciated. Now only in the Andreevsky hall he told the prime minister about what the Andreevsky Hall is. There are three thrones …
And then Anvar Ibrahim began to just choke with laughter. He covered his face with his hands, he wanted and did not want Mr. Putin to continue. But he wanted or did not want, and Vladimir Putin continued:
-And I asked Mr. Prime Minister: “Mr. Prime Minister, three thrones are standing. One is for the king, the second is for his wife, for the queen. And the third throne, do you think for whom? «
That is, it was a full -fledged mystery. And he will make it to her any minister, deputy or senator, for whom the Andreevsky Hall, maybe his own, is sure, we would not have recognized the truth.
“Mr. Prime Minister,” continued Vladimir Putin, “practically without hesitation, answered:“ For the second wife. ”
There was laughter in the Malachite foyer. Russian negotiators sincerely rejoiced that they were not asked.
Moreover, Anvar Ibrahim laughed louder.
A good person is immediately visible.
“Mr. Prime Minister will not be angry with me that I am telling such things,” said Mr. Putin. “This is the answer of a real Muslim, a representative of Islamic culture. I must say that our traditional values may not coincide in something, but the exchange of information is always useful for both parties.
He finished, but the question remained. So for whom?
Vladimir Putin wanted to get up, but Anvar Ibrahim shook his head and protested:
– I have to answer! I have only one wife … But I feel that it was some kind of test from the president, some kind of trick! « Three thrones, do you see? » I said: « Of course, this right is for the wife, and on the other hand – for the second wife. » But I realized that this is for my mother!
That is, the Prime Minister made it clear that he was joking.
“The second throne is for ma-ah! ..” Mr. Putin also specified. “The exchange of information is useful.”
You go, go to the malachite hall for these negotiations for years, but still something else is happening.
