Passed the post

Vladimir Putin passed the baton of G8 presidency to Angela Merkel

Vladimir Putin yesterday received German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Sochi residence. As the Russian president put it, “there was a kind of passing of the baton from the Russian to the German presidency” in the G8. Moscow’s close relations with various German politicians have introduced some confusion into the process of “passing the baton”: recently, Russian presidential aide Igor Shuvalov spoke in Berlin at a conference with ex-Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Gerhard Schröder, and said that their discussion symbolizes the passing of this very baton. In addition, Mr. Shuvalov said, Mr. Schröder's "distinct signature" is still visible in the relations between the two countries.

Angela Merkel has her own style in politics, but in relations with Russia she now and then has to deal with the “autographs” of her predecessor. Yesterday in Sochi, journalists asked Mr. Putin about the difference between the former and the current German chancellor for him. “German society knows about this better than I do,” the president responded and said that he had a very good personal relationship with Mrs. Merkel. “Yes, we have had and continue to have friendly relations with the former German Chancellor Schröder, and have had good relations with Helmut Kohl all these years,” Putin said. As for business feelings, I can only remember one example.” This example is well known, and it does not speak in favor of Mr. Schroeder. When Russia proposed to pay off the debt of the former USSR with a direct payment, Vladimir Putin said, Angela Merkel, who was then in opposition, supported this proposal, but the ruling Chancellor Schröder did not agree, and the German government issued securities against the Russian debt. “And this turned out to be less effective than our proposal,” the president noted.

Now it is extremely important for Moscow to know how Berlin assesses Russia’s policy in the energy sector and the prospects for relations within the European Union. The point is not only that Germany presides over the G8 and the EU, but also that it is Russia’s partner in major projects that raise questions in Europe - in particular, the project to build the Nord Stream gas pipeline across the Baltic.

Before the visit, observers in both Russia and Europe predicted that Angela Merkel would “toughly” raise questions with Putin about the inadmissibility of disruptions in energy supplies , no matter how they are explained. Mrs. Merkel herself fueled such expectations, saying a few days ago that partners in such situations should warn each other.

Yesterday, speaking to reporters, Angela Merkel said right away: Germany, as the EU chairman, “understands and accepts” Russia’s desire to switch to market relations with all partners. Europe, in turn, is “interested in stable supplies.” And in order to avoid such incidents, the German Chancellor believes, the future partnership agreement between Russia and the EU should contain a passage about what cooperation in the energy sector will be like, which “will allow everyone to show how to avoid the rough edges that occurred.” “It is a matter of taste where we will include the relevant agreements. We have an energy dialogue with the European Union, we are conducting it and do not intend to stop it under any circumstances. We ourselves are interested in having clear and clearly defined rules in this area. And so that these rules are observed by everyone,” Vladimir Putin noted in response. As for the current policy, he promised to continue it: “We will accelerate our work on laying pipeline systems to the Pacific coast, we will expand the possibilities for transporting hydrocarbons in the North, including in the north-west of Russia, in order to reduce our dependence on transit states We will build equal relations with everyone, both with transit countries and with consumers.”

As you know, negotiations on a Russia-EU agreement are being blocked by one of the transit states - Poland . On the one hand, Warsaw is dissatisfied with the Nord Stream project, and on the other hand, it uses its “veto” as leverage in the dispute over meat supplies to Russia. Putin said yesterday that he is not against making a branch from Nord Stream towards the Polish coast.

But for Berlin and Angela Merkel personally, it appears that it is very important to achieve success in negotiations on a Russia-EU agreement during the German presidency of the European Union. “The EU has no problems with Poland,” Ms Merkel said yesterday. — There are some trade issues between the EU and Russia, we are talking about meat, they have not yet been clarified. We are currently working very intensively on this. Progress is coming step by step. And, since I am an optimist, I think that we can start negotiations. As for the agreement, during the German presidency, perhaps we will be able to move forward towards the EU-Russia summit.”

Since Russia also seeks to quickly discuss a new agreement to replace the one that expires this year, such a mutual desire makes Moscow and Berlin allies. But this does not mean that there are no disagreements between them on other issues. Yesterday Messrs. Merkel and Putin have revealed different points of view on the most important European event - the elections in Serbia. Putin believes that what is happening there (creating the preconditions for the secession of Kosovo ) is a direct consequence of the bombing carried out by NATO troops several years ago: “We still believe that this is a big mistake. On the eve of the 21st century, bombings in the center of Europe - is this normal? And today we see the results of this mistake.”

“If we neglect the principle of the territorial integrity of the state and say: “Well, well, this happened and nothing can be done about it, and the international community does not want to do anything to restore the territorial integrity of Serbia,” then other peoples also have the right to say: “Then we will do the same,” Putin said. And this, he emphasized, “applies not only to the post-Soviet space, but it may also apply to other states, to some European countries.” “Do we not know about the problems of separatism in European countries?” he noted. On the future of Kosovo, he emphasized, a decision must be made that could become universal in international relations.

“I would like to remind you that today democratic elections are being held in Serbia and this makes me happy,” Angela Merkel said in response. “After the very difficult path that Serbia has gone through, today’s elections are an indicator of success.” In her opinion, the situation is improving in Bosnia, Macedonia, Croatia, and “what we achieved for people in these countries, we want to achieve in Kosovo.” “But not at the cost of complete instability in Serbia. Here we need to act wisely, this is also in the interests of the European Union. I hope that in today’s elections the democratic forces of Serbia will emerge strong,” said Angela Merkel.

The days of “big” diplomacy in Sochi do not end here. The day after tomorrow, Vladimir Putin will receive Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi here.

Ivan GORDEEV