Only Moscow, soon Berlin: During his visit to the Kremlin, Federal government invites foreign Minister Heiko Maas to an international conference on arms control in Berlin. From Moscow Miodrag Soric reported.
The body language on both sides spoke volumes: rarely a Smile, polite, cautious, therefore, in an effort not to burden the already strained relations even further. Federal foreign Minister Maas called his Russian colleagues in Moscow, “my dear Sergei”.
On the agenda sensitive issues: the situation in Syria, in the Ukraine and the future of the INF Treaty. The agreement is an important disarmament Treaty between Russia and the United States to ban medium-range weapons (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces).
Surprisingly, the announcement by the German foreign Minister, to invite in the coming March, an international conference on arms control, according to Berlin. Maas would like to continue with this conference, a few weeks before Germany occupies for two years, a permanent seat in the security Council of the United Nations, is a sign.
The INF Treaty fixed so far, the number of land-based intermediate-range nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia. Not the missiles, China would be recognized. The aim of the German foreign Minister is to think about a new security architecture. The new types of weapons should be regulated.
Maas Lavrov are talking about the INF Treaty and the Ukraine
Moscow upset
Russian foreign Minister Lavrov in the press conference, whether he will follow the invitation of his German colleagues. He was also open, whether the INF Treaty, the United States 2. February, want to cancel to save. Lavrov accused the United States, to violate the INF Treaty. “You have decided to get out,” he said. Washington would be layers of solution proposals of the Russians.
Federal foreign Minister Maas recalled that the topic is not new. In the meantime, not only Washington, but how Maas would have made it clear, but all the NATO countries, Moscow, breach of contract, blame. The Kremlin has built the weapons system “9M729”. Already the Obama Administration have warned the Kremlin not to develop new weapons, in violation of the INF. Russia must disarm “verifiable”. Only the INF could be saved-agreement. Germany, the Meuse, a large interest in ensuring that the contract already in place.
Russia is in the Syrian war on the side of Assad
Elections in the Ukraine
There has been no progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreement. Lavrov accused Ukraine on several occasions, to violate this. Mainly for political reasons, as in Ukraine on 31 October. March, presidential elections will take place. Berlin and Paris should remind the government in Kiev to adhere to the obligations.
Of Russia, in turn, Maas, allow during the clashes trapped Ukrainian Navy soldiers called. The German proposal, the document passing through Kertch with the help of observers, rejected the Russian foreign Minister is not complete. He wants to but no additional “political process” to this question.
Maas said that he expected that all eligible voters in Ukraine can choose to go. So far, the Ukraine has made it clear that she wanted no polling stations for Ukrainian citizens in Russia. Exactly has criticised Lavrov in conversation with his German colleague. Who would be allowed in the presidential elections, as election observers, the OSCE, let Maas know.
In Syria, Russia hopes to have the financial support of Germany in the reconstruction. Berlin wants to participate in it, linked but Require it. Maas demanded that all parties Involved would behave responsibly. But in the end, there has been, apparently, also in the case of this topic, little progress. Lavrov attacked the US, supported the Regime of President Assad.
Maas Lavrov described the talks as “constructive”. You lasted much longer than originally planned, which was regarded by the German delegation circles as a positive sign. Moscow Maas, flew to negotiate to Kiev.