Zee Beam News

June 06, 2008 – Kommersant – Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has been the first western leader to meet with Dmitry Medvedev after he was elected President: She came to Moscow short after the outcome of the voting was announced. Germany’s Vice-Chancellor, Head of the Foreign Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been the first high-ranking diplomat from the West to be received in the Kremlin by the Russian President after assuming office. Dmitry Medvedev is paying his first European visit in his capacity as President to Germany as well. This all points to the significance the parties attach to the development of the relations, which the Russian President called privileged, and the German Chancellor – strategic. Nonetheless, you could see that the bilateral political relations have obviously become less warm in two or three years. It is mainly caused by the fact that Angela Merkel has made no secret of her criticism of violation of human rights and crackdown on democratic freedoms in Russia, which couldn’t help irritating Vladimir Putin. More to the point, Berlin has been reluctant to have special relations with Russia: It could impede the cooperation with the EU and NATO partners and allies, which is essential for Germany. As to economic cooperation of Russia and Germany, it has reached a new level in the two years. So, it’s high time the low temperature of the political dialogue were increased to the optimal level. This is the crucial point: Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the German capital must become a new hallmark in the political relations of the two countries. It need be said that chances of success are quite high. As far back as March Angela Merkel hinted that it’ll be no more difficult for her to work with Dmitry Medvedev than with his predecessor. In Berlin they have paid much attention to the repeated statements of the new President about his determination to strengthen the rule of law. If the Moscow guest manages to convince the hosts that deeds will follow his words, it will contribute to a thaw in the relations. Dmitry Medvedev is expected to deliver his first keynote speech on foreign policy, where priorities will differ from the ones Vladimir Putin listed in his notorious Munich speech, which smelled of cold war, as many people repute. For all that, economy, and energy in particular, will once again become the major talking point: Before starting official negotiations about a new agreement between the EU and Russia, it’s necessary to thrash out a range of basic matters at the top level. Angela Merkel is likely to offer Russia to become a partner in its modernization, which the German Chancellor has voiced several times. Nevertheless, the Russian party doesn’t seem to have duly estimated the gesture. And it can be evidence of Berlin’s taking seriously the intention of the Russian government to bring the country’s economy on the innovation track.