“I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”
![“There is progress in the sense that the Prime Minister [Shinzō Abe] has proposed, outlined, as it were, directions for movement toward a peace treaty and the resolution of issues related to territorial problems. Now, what did he propose? He proposed promoting an environment of trust and…” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f24/vladimir-putin-261_abe_there-is-progress-in-the-sense-that-the_85929.jpg)
![“Prime Minister [Shinzō Abe] and I have spoken a lot, and we said all the right things, in my opinion, about creating an atmosphere of trust and friendship between our nations and peoples.” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b85/vladimir-putin-261_abe_prime-minister-shinz-abe-and-i-have-spok_298163.jpg)
![“I hope that being in places from the [Shinzo Abe] Prime Minister's past will motivate us to have a sincere, very practical and, I hope, productive conversation.” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1b2/vladimir-putin-261_abe_i-hope-that-being-in-places-from-the-shi_373776.jpg)
![“The Prime Minister [Shinzō Abe] proposed advancing to a new level of economic engagement, putting forward eight lines of cooperation in the most important and interesting areas both for Russia and for Japan.” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a8/vladimir-putin-261_abe_the-prime-minister-shinz-abe-proposed-ad_524424.jpg)
![“We [with Shindzo Abe] should understand that the results of that terrible tragedy of the 20th century, namely World War II, are enshrined in corresponding international documents, and finding a way to settle all disputes without destroying the entire foundation of international law that evolved as…” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d5c/vladimir-putin-261_20th-century_we-with-shindzo-abe-should-understand-th_621398.jpg)