Foreign policy

“A fresh start on saving flame” between the Germans and the Russians

Irritation issues, there are abundant between Berlin and Moscow. At a debate in St. Petersburg, the Germans and the Russians but, again, similarities. A “new beginning on the back burner” of participants.

Ronald Pofalla, and Viktor Zubkov chairs of the “Petersburg Dialogue”

Since the Russian annexation of the Crimea and the ongoing Ukraine crisis, the German-Russian relationship is considered to be tense. More than two years after that, both sides try again in a tentative relaxation. So Germans and Russians with a session of the discussion forum “Petersburg dialogue” have taken a step back approach in their crisis of confidence.

In the two days of talks, ten working groups in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, it became clear how much about the subject of human rights, the opinions diverge. “There is not, as before, for Russian government organizations, the absence of a satisfactory Situation,” it said of the German side. A Russian participant spoke of a “new beginning on the back burner”.

Anniversary despite the crisis

Germany and Russia had formed the “Petersburg Dialog” in 2001. Given the good personal relationship between Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President Vladimir Putin, the Forum was launched at the time, full of promise and at the highest political level has been launched. Because of the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian Peninsula of Crimea, the dialogue of 2014, it was exposed to. At the anniversary event, appeal of topics, such as the Russian actions in the Ukraine, or the proposed NATO build-up in Eastern Europe now, is not explicitly on the agenda. The German delegation head Ronald Pofalla had said with a view on the current problems between Berlin and Moscow, there is no Alternative to the interview.

The “Petersburg dialogue” has existed for 15 years

“Both sides have made (in the case of the appeal issues) its tough stance significantly, however, there are many fields of possible cooperation”, – said Vladislav Belov, Germany-expert of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the German press Agency. As an example, he called it – against the Background of the attack in nice – the fight against international terrorism.

More than 250 politicians, experts and activists discussed, among other things, on the role of civil society and economic cooperation. They tested their positions for Ecology, the media and Religion. The Motto of the conference was “Russia and Germany in the face of global challenges”. On the German side, among other things, the mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz, and the Russia-the German government, Gernot Erler (both SPD) Officer.

where/haz (dpa, petersburger-dialog.de)