Budapest, Moscow sign cooperation agreement

Moscow, October 31 (MTI) – Budapest and Moscow signed an agreement on cooperation until 2019 during a visit of Budapest Mayor István Tarlós to the Russian capital on Monday.

The agreement will enable cooperation in a wide range of areas in city management, including architecture and city developments, such as the upgrade of housing estates once built from Soviet-made panels. It will affect transport, water and sewage developments, water treatment, waste management, social issues, cooperation between small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), cultural and tourism projects, Tarlós said after signing the agreement with Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin.

“Relations between Budapest and Moscow and Budapest and St Petersburg have been very positive for years. Our staff have worked for months to prepare the present cooperation with Moscow,” Tarlós said, adding that the scope of the agreement is until 2019 because that is the end of the local government cycle in both cities.

Tarlós said he had met Georgy Poltavchenko, the governor of St Petersburg, last year to consult on a similar cooperation plan with that city, but focusing mainly on cultural aspects.

Source: MTI