Putin Arrives In The Netherlands

President Vladimir Putin (file photo) (CTK) 1 November 2005 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Netherlands today for a two-day state visit.

Putin has been to the Netherlands before, but this trip marks the first
state visit by a Russian leader since Tsar Alexander II in 1874.

Putin
is to meet with political and business leaders in Amsterdam and The
Hague. They are expected to explore ways of increasing business in the
energy sector.

Speaking to Dutch media before his visit,
Putin said Russia is a trustworthy and promising partner for Europe,
and that they should "complement each other."

(AP/Interfax/ITAR-TASS)