Berlin Makes Moscow an Offer
// And assured it of its steadfast friendship
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.
Tim Zuwerink, Bonn; Sergey Strokan
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 05, 2005
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