Romania needs constructive relationship with Russia: PM

Romania needs a constructive relationship, of cooperation, with the Russian Federation, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said on Saturday at a local TV Channel.

It is in Romania's interest to have a friendly relationship with Russia and not a "cold one," Tariceanu said at Realitatea TV Channel.

According to him, the enhancement of the relationship with Russia has an extremely pragmatic goal because this country can become an outlet for Romania, but also because Russia is the main supplier of natural gas for Romania.

Tariceanu admitted there is a possibility for him to meet with Vladimir Putin if the latter becomes the new premier of the Russian Federation.

The Romanian prime minister voiced confidence that the new foreign minister Lazar Comanescu will actively contribute to improving the ties with the Russian Federation.

The relations between Romania and Russia have been anything but friendly in recent years. Russian President Vladimir Putin's presence at the NATO summit in Bucharest on early April, the first visit by a Russian head of state to Romania since 1990, was seen as a new beginning of the bilateral relations.