Putin Offers Merkel Warm German Unity Day Greeting, Notes Potential in Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his regards to top-level German government officials on the occasion of the Day of German Unity.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the occasion of the Day of German Unity, noting the positive potential in bilateral relations, the Kremlin press service said in a statement Tuesday.

"Russia attaches great importance to preserving the positive potential accumulated for a long time in relations with Germany. We expect that the year of regional and municipal partnerships, continuing the tradition of [the 'Year of Russia in Germany' and vice versa], will contribute to the expansion of mutually beneficial bilateral ties in various spheres," the telegram said.

Putin also confirmed his interest in boosting joint efforts to address urgent international issues, noting that it was in the interests of Russia and Germany to ensure security and stability on the European continent and in the world as a whole.

On October 3, Germans celebrate the 27th anniversary of the day when the German Democratic Republic unified with the Federal Republic after over 40 years of division.  Although reunification brought Germany together as the most economically powerful nation in Europe, a new government report has found that the former East German territories continue to lag behind the West in socio-economic development.