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German Official Stresses Russian, US Role in Strategic Stability
Russia and the United States play an important role in ensuring the world strategic stability, visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Monday after talks with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.
Fischer told a subsequent joint press conference that their talks focused on "strategic stability and security, as well as the consequences of the US plans to deploy the national defense missile system (NMD)."
Believing that any US action would have great influence on the world situation, the minister stressed the need to give weight to Russia's stance.
"The US is Germany's most important partner. At the same time, we should not diminish Russia's role," Fischer said.
"Due to its size and history, Russia will play an important role in ensuring international and German security," he added.
The minister said the atmosphere of his Moscow talks was "open and constructive", and his talks with Ivanov touched a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation.
Although Russia does not need any mediators in its relations with the United States, Fischer said, a third party should try to help them settle disagreements.
Ivanov said that the two ministers discussed the preparations for the upcoming Russian-German summit, slated for April in St. Petersburg. "We give particular importance to this summit and want to thoroughly prepare for it."
A Russian-German working group on economic and scientific technical cooperation will meet in recent feature, also as a preparation for the summit, Ivanov said.
Fischer, who arrived here Monday for a two-day working visit, also held talks with Duma Chairman Gennady Seleznyov on weapon control and nuclear non-proliferation shortly after his arrival.
He is to hold a meeting with Russian Security Council Chief Sergei Ivanov and likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday.
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