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The meeting between Chancellor Merkel and President Medvedev was part of the Petersburg Dialogue.

(© BPA; by Bergmann)

Germany and Russia are moving closer together. A German-Russian energy agency, a trade agreement and a more intensive scientific cooperation are tangible results of the German-Russian government consultations that took place near Munich on July 16. However, the terrible murder of Russian civil-rights activist Natalya Estemirova also came up as a topic when Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met in Oberschleißheim. Both leaders condemned the act in the sharpest terms.

Words become deeds

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One of the tangible outcomes of the consultations was the signing of an agreement on a German-Russian energy agency.

(© BPA; by Bergmann)

For Chancellor Merkel, the founding of a German-Russian energy agency is one of the most important results of the meeting. The idea was only initiated one year ago and the contracts have now already been signed.

That shows that the idea was not only words, but that actions followed, Merkel said. The founding of the agency continues the good cooperation, according to Medvedev. It can ensure Europe’s energy security, he said.

A further outcome of the meeting is a trade agreement. Germany and Russia signed a very important agreement on goods and credit insurance in bilateral trade with a scope of 500 million euros ($707 million). It will promote trade extraordinarily, especially in the economic crisis. The expansion of trade relations is especially important for Russia because it has seen large trade collapses during the current economic crisis.

Economic cooperation

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Chancellor Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev walk through Schleißheim Palace during their bilateral meeting on July 16.

(© BPA; by Bergmann)

The economic crisis naturally played a role in a number of topics. Medvedev and Merkel also talked about Opel. Merkel said that the concept presented by Magna offers outstanding starting points. On the one hand, an opportunity would be opened for Opel; on the other it would make it possible to achieve a strategic cooperation all the way to Russia. She said Germany would do everything to clear up open questions in the coming days.

Scientific cooperation

The research ministers of both countries signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation. Projects in the fields of information and communications technology as well as in biotechnology will be fostered.

Partner in foreign policy

Germany and Russia are also moving closer together on foreign policy issues. Both countries are working closely together on the preparation of international meetings like the G-8 and G-20, for example.

Overall, the two countries are on a very good path toward intensifying relations, the will is there, Merkel said.

St. Petersburg Dialogue

The meeting between Chancellor Merkel and President Medvedev was part of the St. Petersburg Dialogue. The St. Petersburg Dialogue was founded in 2001 as an open discussion forum. Its patrons are the German Chancellor and the Russian President. The meetings take place annualy, alternating between Germany one year and Russia the next. The Dialogue is intended to lend new impetus to German-Russian relations. It has the support of political and private-sector foundations, private enterprises in Germany and Russia, and of the German Government and the government of the Russian Federation.