President Hosni Mubarak termed as ``good`` and``successful`` his three-day visit to the Russian Federation that was concluded Saturday.

    In statements to Editors-in-Chief of the Egyptian Press and MENA during the home trip, Mubarak said his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin were excellent as they exchanged views and information on different issues and bilateral ties.

    In his statements Mubarak said the file of bilateral relations figured prominently during talks with President Putin, his Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Cabinet Ministers.

    "The Russian side expressed full readiness to cooperate fully with Egypt in all fields. Within this context, agreement to increase the volume of trade exchange was reached," President Mubarak, said.

    "It was agreed to access Egyptian products to the Russian market," he said.

    "The idea of concluding barter deals was accepted by the two countries," the President said.

    "Russia's markets are large and they can absorb Egyptian products and commodities," Mubarak added.

    "The Russian friends advised us that Egyptian businessmen and exporters should not limit their activities to Moscow alone, but rather seek other larger, and more promising, markets outside the Russian capital," Mubarak said.

    "During the joint higher committee meetings, it was agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, economy and trade," he said.

    "The joint committee meetings reached fruitful results, with the two sides underlining the need to expedite the exchange of visits and businessmen," President Mubarak added.

    Answering a question on why he did not visit the Russian Space Research Centre that was placed on his itinerary to Moscow, President Mubarak said the visit was not part of the itinerary.

    President Mubarak explained that his itinerary was so intensive so that when it was referred to him in Cairo he decided to cut short part of its items.

    President Mubarak cited an example of Yesterday's hectic agenda involving a visit to the DUMA and discussions with its speaker and other political leaders, then a visit to the Unknown Soldier Memorial, then to the Kremlin to start tête-à-tête talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin followed by a plenary session of talks.

    "This was followed by attending the signing of the long-term cooperation agreement between both sides, and then signing the Moscow declaration, and after a short break another visit to the Russian Cabinet Headquarters for talks on means of boosting bilateral cooperation," said President Mubarak.

    The Egyptian President added that he headed later for the Supreme Federal Council: the Senate where he held talks with its speaker and then back to the Kremlin to attend the dinner banquet hosted by President Putin.

    He further added that Saturday's agenda included also a number of talks and meetings, atop of which came a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and then the itinerary came to an end.

    Asked about nuclear cooperation and Russian media reports on Moscow's readiness to sell nuclear stations or reactors to Egypt, Mubarak said ``let us stay away from the media exaggerations.

    The nuclear field is not confined to nuclear stations or reactors. I stress that Egypt will not set up nuclear stations at the time being to generate electricity. ``

    Mubarak added that he did not raise the issue during his talks in Russia.

    ``Setting up nuclear stations to generate electricity is not a pressing demand for Egypt, as we have plenty of natural gas already. Most of the power stations have been modified to gas-run stations, `` Mubarak said.

    ``So we are not facing any energy problem, `` he added.

    About the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the agriculture and other fields, Mubarak said it is being applied now.

    ``But I want to emphasise once more that there is no agreement on setting up any nuclear-powered stations in Egypt, `` Mubarak added.

    Asked about businessmen's complaints that bank securities in Russia do not encourage them to access the Russian market with their products, Mubarak said Minister of Economy Youssef Boutros Ghali had discussed the issue in detail at the meetings of the joint committee.

    "The Russian government reaffirmed its readiness to give enough guarantees to the Egyptian exporters and businessmen," the President said.

    "Chiefs of the Egyptian and Russian Central Banks are now in Washington, and they have met to discuss the issue and determine the necessary bank security measures," he noted.

    Cooperation between the two countries is in the interest of both countries, he said, adding that Moscow and Cairo would cooperate in the fields of producing gas and extending pipelines, given that Russia was one of the biggest world natural gas producers and exporters.

    A facility for producing gas pipes has recently been established in Egypt, Mubarak noted, adding that the Russian expertise in this regard could be of great help.

    President Mubarak said, in answer to a query on Egypt's accomplishments over the past years and its objectives, that Egypt has achieved many accomplishments and his aim is the good of the citizen.

    The President said that Egypt started the economic reform march in the 80s according to systematic and phasal plans.

    "Our steps have been studied and calculated and we managed to surmount the most difficult stages without any social shocks," the President added.

    The Egyptian leader said that the Egyptian experience was mainly characterized by maintaining the momentum of social development and achieving economic development and reform.

    President Hosni Mubarak, in his statements to the chief editors of Egyptian press institutions, cited indicators that the Egyptian economic performance had been improving since last October.

    He added that it was expected that this improvement would yield positive results over the coming few months.

    The Egyptian President pointed out that he was following up the state of affairs himself.

    The recent European tour that covered, Germany, Romania and Russia, President Mubarak said, centered on means of boosting Egypt's economic relations with these countries.

    "Egypt has reached a number of agreements with these countries, especially on increasing Egyptian exports to these countries and foreign investments in Egypt," added the President.

    President Mubarak, citing the example of Egypt's debt to Germany, said it has been agreed, during his visit to Berlin, to shift this debt, estimated at $ 380 million, to investments in Egypt over four years: $ 90 million for each year.