The Petersburg dialogue in Bonn wants to send signals of a German-Russian rapprochement – in the times of the duration of the dispute and of the sanctions is not easy. A youth exchange is to help to smooth things over.
A long time ago: Merkel and Putin, the last joint appearance at the Petersburg dialogue in Moscow in November 2012
Already in March, the conservation of the speculation to the herb shot: Meet this time to the St. Petersburg dialogue, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin? Should there be a new German-Russian Era, the traditional St. Petersburg dialogue finally win back the world format? The last two of 2012 had participated in the dialogue meeting in Moscow. So before the annexation of Crimea, the war in Eastern Ukraine and the economic sanctions against Russia.
Dialogue without leaders – Putin and Merkel will not come
No, you are not insured for the German Secretariat of the dialogue format on request of the DW. As always, both were invited. However, opening only greeting messages of the two States recited to the handlebars, it means more. After all, foreign Minister Heiko Maas meets his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the event, the 18. to 20. July in the vicinity of Bonn takes place.
So, not a big Show; but after all, the foreign Minister is to meet for a rapprochement in small steps in difficult times.
The Petersburg dialogue is considered to be the highest Karat civil society meeting between the representatives of Russia and Germany. This year’s Motto: “cooperation as a guiding principle for a Europe in peace: contributions from the civil societies of Russia and Germany”. From the baptism, the then German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the dialogue in 2001. To make the meetings this year, around 300 participants from politics, Non-governmental organizations, economy and culture always. The Name of the Petersburg dialogue goes back to the first venue in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Each change is met in Germany and Russia.
Sugar bread and whip – talk and sanction
After the annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea, the Meeting in 2014 did not take place for the first and only Time. The dialogue was nevertheless continued; on the back burner. Prepare the Meeting on the Russian side, by Ex-head of government Viktor Zubkov, who is, since 2008, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the state-controlled Oil and gas company, Gazprom. The German Co-Chairman in the so-called steering Committee for 2015, the former CDU leaders, Ronald Pofalla, a close Confidant of Angela Merkel, and since 2015 of the infrastructure management Board of Deutsche Bahn.
Roland Pofalla, is Co-Chairman of the Dialogue and Optimist
In an Interview with Deutsche Welle Pofalla formulated its expectations of the Russian side: “We will never accept that the people has been illegal annexation of Crimea. We will never accept that in the Eastern Ukraine by force of arms every week people are killed. And we will not be able to accept that civil society – the NGOs – will also be suppressed.”
Because of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014, the EU imposed the first sanctions against individuals and organizations. Later, sanctions were added to the economy – also because of Russia’s role in Eastern Ukraine, where separatists with Russia, fought against the Ukrainian army. Today is shot in the Region and died. This is also why the EU sanctions were extended until the beginning of 2020. Ronald Pofalla, the Co-Chairman of the Petersburg dialogue, they want to hold on to the sanctions, as he explained recently in an Interview with the Germany radio: “I think the sanctions are correct. I am of the firm Belief that the West has responded in the right way.”
Russia-sanctions – East and West split
18. Petersburg dialogue in tense times and in the middle of the election campaign in two Eastern German Federal States: Brandenburg and Saxony, select the beginning of September, a new Parliament of Thuringia at the end of October. The Russia sanctions see East German politicians is quite different than Ronald Pofalla, the Ex-politicians from the West.
The Prime Minister of Saxony, the CDU politician Michael Kretschmer, had in mid-June, a gradual reduction of the sanctions against Russia needed. Target: complete removal of the sanctions. Support received Kretschmer of several East German Prime Minister. Was punished, he on the other hand, the own party leader, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Granted Kretschmers claim a clear rebuff. “I want the times to change again,” said Kretschmer to the criticism of the CDU-Chairman, almost defiantly. And if the information that has to be any different in the West, then the East and the West would be ticking in some of the questions differently. In a Newspaper article of the Free press in Chemnitz, the Russia expert Klaus Segbers, Free University of Berlin, explains: “It is obvious, that in the East German population, quite a lot of positive moods for Russia are available. Public positions of politicians in the East are, therefore, often more Russia-friendly. This could bring in the upcoming state elections plus points.”
Without a visa to Germany – the dream of many young Russians
Young Russians are to be allowed to travel visa-free
In ten working groups, the experts want to exchange ideas for two days in Bonn – the German-Russian energy policy in times of climate change and also about the prospects of the media in both countries. A concrete goal is the Expansion of the German-Russian youth exchange. The Petersburg dialogue is aiming for the end of the visa requirement for young Russians (under 25 years). The idea is not new, and, for example, the EU would have to give up level the Czech Republic and Poland, their resistance. But it’s the small steps with which the 18. Petersburg dialogue is to bring the German-Russian relationship back to the front. The hope dies last. Dialog-Chairman Roland Pofalla is in an Interview with Deutsche Welle optimistic: “My life experience is: as Long as you talk, as long as you fight, you are in the Dialog. And at the end of this dialogue will lead to changes.”