Schroeder Holds Talks with ClintonThe German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held talks with the visiting U.S. President Bill Clinton on Thursday evening in Berlin.During the talks Schroeder expressed his concern that a proposed U.S. National Missile Defense system could disrupt ties with Russia. After their talks Schroeder said at a news briefing with Clinton: "We have to be careful that any such project does not trigger the process of a renewed arms race." Clinton presented his views on the NMD system"in a very frank way", according to Schroeder. But Schroeder said : "I then stated my concerns." Schroeder and Clinton both stressed the importance of the partnership with Russia: "The world and especially Europe needs an intact relationships with Russia." Two leaders expressed their supports for the Russian President Vladimir Putin and backed the political and economic stability in Russia. After ending his visit to Portugal and attending the summit conference of the E.U. and the United States in Lisbon, Clinton arrived in Berlin on Thursday to make his three-day visit to Germany. Clinton will travel to Aachen, a small city on the border to Belgium, to receive the Charlemagne Prize of this year. Then he returns to Berlin to take part in the "Third Way" summit conference in which altogether 13 heads of state and government will attend. Clinton will travel to Moscow this weekend and talk with the Russian Federal President Vladimir Putin. |
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