German Chancellor and Russian President to Discuss DebtGerman Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss Russian debt and building a civil society when they meet next week in Saint Petersburg, government spokesman Bela Anda said Monday.They will also discuss European security and the situation in the Balkans at their summit April 9-10, he said. Berlin and Moscow are discussing how to convert Russian debt to Germany into German ownership of Russian firms. Russia is reluctant, however, to cede ownership in certain companies. Germany is Russia's main creditor, responsible for 27 billion of the 55 billion euro (50 billion dollar) debt from the former Soviet era to the Paris Club. |
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