- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Russian-German relations to remain good under Merkel - Gorbachev

Subscribe
ST. PETERSBURG, November 30 (RIA Novosti, Maxim Nichiporenko) - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Wednesday that the change of government in Germany would not adversely affect Russian-German relations, and described all related speculations as a "provocation."

Speaking at the annual Russian-German forum "Petersburg Dialogue," Gorbachev said, "There will be no major changes in the relationship. Germans are also interested in maintaining [good] relations."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that he expected the two nations to sustain their good relations after Angela Merkel takes over from Gerhard Schroeder as Federal Chancellor.

At his October meeting with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who had preceded Merkel as chair of Germany's Christian Democratic Union, Putin said he was pleased to see that Merkel "advocates the continuation of the Russia-Germany relationship's strategic character."

Meanwhile, Merkel described the Petersburg forum as an ongoing dialogue between members of the public, media and polity of Russia and Germany.

In a letter of greetings, read out by German Ambassador Jurgen Schmidt, she said that the two countries were standing on the same platform in the face of globalization, and promised to actively cooperate with Petersburg Dialogue in her new post.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала