Kommersant - Moscow, Russia
Diplomacy
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Moscow on Saturday
for a quick working visit. According to information obtained by Kommersant, one
of the main issues addressed in the hurriedly organized visit was to inform the
Russian leadership of the growing alarm in the West over the Russian bill on nonprofits.
Steinmeier gave Moscow a friendly warning of a possible serious crisis in relations
with the West and expressed his hope that their partnership would continue.
Moscow prepared carefully for the German official's visit. In violation of state
protocol, a meeting at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogarevo with a delegation
headed by Russian President Vladimir Putin was included in Steinmeier's visit.
Steinmeier then met separately with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry
Medvedev, who, it appears, besides national projects will manage relations with
Germany, which are extremely important for Moscow since the departure of Gerhard
Schroeder. Steinmeier's visit ended with a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov.
There were two reasons for the intense attention given this visit. The first
is that Moscow is trying to continue its privileged strategic relationship with
Berlin in the post-Schroeder era and bolster them with close personal relations
between the nations leaders. In this sense Steinmeier's visit is just what
Moscow wanted, since he is known to have a close relationship with Schroeder.
He thus demonstrates the continuity of bilateral ties. Second, as Kommersant
discovered, Steinmeier intended to discuss a number of unpleasant and touchy
topics, so the multi-stage negotiations with top officials, right up to the
president, were devised in Moscow as a line of defense.
Sources say that Steinmeier was sent to inform Moscow of the growing concern
in the West over the campaign against nonprofit organizations in Russia. Considering
the close relations between Moscow and Berlin, the discussion begun by the German
foreign minister on possible consequences of the passage of that law was meant
to look not so much like pressure from the West as like a friendly warning.
Steinmeier tried to hint gently at the possibility of serious consequences in
relations with the West that could make it hard for Russia to fulfill its duties
as chairman of the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe and G8.
The difficult exchange of views was also connected with the annual OSCE meeting
of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which began today in Ljubljana. The hottest
topic there is the situation in Belarus and Russia's failure to fulfill its
so-called Istanbul obligations on Moldova (the withdrawal of Russian troops
from Transdniestria). Steinmeier discussed the principle differences in opinion
on those matters that are meaningful in relations between Russia and Germany
and Western Europe as a whole.
While speaking of Belarus, the Russians reminded Steinmeier that Russia is
tied to Belarus by obligations of allegiance and will not tolerate attempts
to overthrow the Lukashenko regime, should any be undertaken (although Moscow
may see the shortcomings of the Belarusian leader too). Concerning Moscow's
“Istanbul obligations,” the Russians indicated that there was no
reason even to talk about it until a political settlement is reached between
Chisinau and Tiraspol.
The elections in Chechnya were also touched on. They are a topic the strategic
partners do not see eye to eye on either. Steinmeier said the elections were
“not by Western standards,” but highly appraised the fact that they
took place.
Discussions during Steinmeier's visit were as unproblematic as possible. Kommersant
learned that a January working visit to Moscow by German Chancellor Angela Merkel
was confirmed in their course.
One of the key points in the bilateral agenda for the German minister's visit
was the inclusion of large investors from a third country in the North European
Gas Pipeline project. In spite of the fact that those perspectives look rosy,
discussion of the ceremonial beginning of the “construction of the century,”
to take place on December 9 in the village of Babaevo, Vologda Region, turned
out less pleasantly. Merkel, in spite her invitation, has decided not to attend
them. Therefore Moscow is forced to lower their status. Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov and German Minister of Economics and Technology Michael Glos
will attend.
by Tim Zuwerink, Bonn; Sergey Strokan
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