By Vestnik Kavkaza
Today, the sixth session of the Russian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission takes place under the chairmanship of Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovich. The agenda includes issues of trade and economic cooperation, joint steps on promotion of projects in the spheres of energy, transport, space, agriculture, investment and inter-regional cooperation, and development of a dialogue in culture, education, and science. Presidents of Russia and Ukraine will discuss cooperation within the CIs, international problems and are going to sign a big packet of bilateral documents. However, the main topic will be problems which appeared after the Vilnius summit of the Eastern Partnership, where Kiev rejected the signing of the association agreement with Europe, sparking protests in Kiev.
Europe is taking an active role in the settlement of the crisis. The head of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, Robert Zollic, expressed the view that the German government had to join the settlement of the situation in Ukraine, while Chancellor Angela Merkel has to become a mediator in the dialogue between all sides of the conflict. Meanwhile, German experts think that the EU gave way to Russia in another round of the struggle for Ukraine. “Putin defeated Merkel in the first round. But Merkel and Europeans want to turn professional boxer Vitaly Klichko into a strong politician whom they could rely on,” Berlin experts think.
The Sochi Olympic Games can improve relations between Moscow and Berlin. President of Germany Joachim Gauk won’t arrive to Sochi (but he has never intended to do it), while the question on Merkel’s visit is not settled yet. The German ambassador in Moscow, Ulrich Brandenburg, states that the process of composing the government is taking place in Germany at the moment, and the question on Sochi’s visit is not a priority in the agenda.
Yesterday, Angela Merkel as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union and leaders of the Christian Social Union and Social Democratic Party, signed the coalition treaty. Thus, the process of establishing the ruling coalition in Germany, which lasted for almost three months, was officially ended. Today the new government is formed in Germany.
“Composing of the new government influences German-Russian relations,” Ulrich Brandenburg said. “I hope that soon we will agree on a new meeting at the top level. Moreover, there is an article in the coalition treaty which touches on German-Russian relations. It says that Germany and Russia are mingled. It concerns political, economic, cultural relations. Many people from the former Soviet Union, who speak Russian, live in Germany. Many people travel to Russia. This is good.”
According to Ulrich Brandenburg, “the coalition treaty says that we want to extend our partnership in the sphere of modernization. The modernization partnership was justified in 2008-2009. What the main topics there? The first topic is energy efficiency. The second is healthcare. The third is transport. The fourth is professional education. The fifth is legal cooperation between Germany and Russia. It should be enhanced, that’s what is written in the coalition treaty. It is also written that contacts between civil societies of Germany and Russia should be extended and contacts with the middle class which is developing in Russia today. It also touches on the simplification of the visa regime, and we would like to contribute to it, and on a new agreement between Russia and the European Union; we wish to see significant progress in the sphere.”
