Germany supports sanctions against Russia, Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, adding that restrictive measures should be coordinated, TASS reports.
"We support sanctions against Russia. They should be coordinated (with Ukraine)," she said.
Western countries should maintain the dialogue with Russia, German Chancellor said, adding that it is necessary to observe the Russia-NATO Founding Act.
"As before, we are committed to the Russia-NATO Founding Act," she said, adding that "from the geostrategic viewpoint, Europe cannot be interested in breaking the relationship with Russia.".
At the same time, Merkel said Germany considers it a mistake to squeeze Russia out of the European Union’s gas market for political reasons.
"I would like to tell the following to our American colleagues: it has been three years since it was permitted to export liquefied natural gas (to Europe). We have not had American natural gas over the past 67 years since Germany was formed, and we have looked to the Persian Gulf, as well as used own resources, for example, in Norway," she said. "We do not put the issue of American gas purchases in doubt, but I consider it a mistake to squeeze Russia deliberately due to political concerns. That is a wrong signal from the strategic point of view," Merkel emphasized.
Germany will remain a reliable market for natural gas, no matter where it flows from, Chancellor said. "Germany will remain a reliable market concerning natural gas, no matter where it comes from," she said.
Chancellor noted that "no one wants to be fully dependent on Russia" regarding the issues of energy resources supplies. Meanwhile, she added that Russia or Soviet Union have always provided "full" gas deliveries. "I don’t know why the times have become that bad that we cannot say that Russia remains a partner," Merkel said.
