06/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram congratulating Jose Manuel Durao Barroso upon his appointment as the future President of the European Commission. According to the Russian agency, RIA Novosti, Vladimir Putin told Barroso: "For our country, strategic partnership relations founded on equality with the European Union have been and remain one of our external policy priorities". The Russian Head of State trusts, therefore, that Mr Barroso will "contribute to developing relations between Russia and the European Union" in all aspects, including the four common areas to be developed (economy, freedom and justice, external and internal security, as well as science, education and culture).