World press on Putin's visit to Germany (April 8, 2012)

"Putin stands firm on Russian NGOs as Germany’s Merkel says they should be able to work freely" is an article reprinted today by the Washington Post from the Associated Press.
"German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronted Russia’s president with her concerns about a crackdown on non-governmental organizations, but Vladimir Putin brushed the issue aside by repeating that his government needs to know who is funding the groups," the article reads.
"The trip highlights Russia’s interest in developing foreign trade, including further business ties with Germany, but ties have been strained lately by the Kremlin’s heavy-handed response to opposition groups and pressure on NGOs. Two German think-tanks were among groups targeted in recent searches."
'What is important, at least this is what I made clear, is that nongovernmental organizations can work well and freely,' said Merkel, the first foreign leader to publicly confront Putin about the issue since Russian authorities launched raids of NGOs earlier this year."
The newspaper quotes Putin's answer that he gave to Angela Merkel: "'Our action is aimed not toward bans, but at imposing control over financial flows from abroad,' he said, adding that NGOs in Russia had got nearly $1 billion from abroad and “the public has the right to know where from and for what purpose this money flows.”
"As the two leaders toured the fair, several activists from Ukraine’s Femen group, bared their torsos and shouted “Putin dictator!” before being detained by guards. A smiling Putin shrugged off the protest. 'As for the action, I liked it,' he said. 'You should be grateful to the girls, they are helping you make the fair more popular.' Merkel was not amused. 'Whether one has to resort to such an emergency measure in Germany and can’t say one’s piece some other way, I have my doubts,' she said."
The New York Times published an article yesterday entitled "Protesters Greet Putin on German Economic Visit."
"Mr. Putin was greeted on Sunday by several hundred protesters angry at a recent crackdown by Moscow on nongovernmental organizations, including two prominent German foundations. Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under pressure from her center-right government, as well as the opposition and civil-rights groups, not to be soft on Mr. Putin in discussions over a recent move by the Russian authorities to confiscate data from German-financed organizations working in Russia," the article reads.
" Ms. Merkel described German relations with Russia as 'close and intensive,' ahead of her meeting late Sunday with Mr. Putin, but insisted that the political discussions 'will certainly include controversial issues.'"
"Ms. Merkel has repeatedly sought to press Moscow on the issue of human rights. Last November, her governing coalition passed a resolution emphasizing the importance of civil society and the rule of law in Germany’s relationship with Russia. But Germany draws more than 40 percent of its natural gas and a third of its crude oil from Russia, according to German government figures, and is therefore dependent on maintaining civil ties with Moscow, despite their differing points of view on issues that include the treatment of groups and organizations critical of the government. Berlin views the raids by tax and law enforcement officials as a clear attempt by the Russian government to crack down on opposition forces within the country by limiting the powers of civil rights organizations."