Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.
Today Mr Federal Chancellor and I continued our exchange of opinions on the key international and bilateral issues.
It was an unscheduled meeting, and I am glad that we had a chance to meet here in Oslo and discuss the whole range of issues that are of concern to us.
I would like once again to thank the Federal Chancellor and the German people for the solidarity they displayed with Russia during the terrorist attack, during the tragedy that Moscow and Russia faced just recently, on October 24.
Naturally, we could not but discuss interaction in the fight against international terror. For my part I briefed the Chancellor on the efforts Russia is exerting to settle the situation in Chechnya. The relations between Russia and Germany have developed very dynamically in recent years. I am referring above all to economic interaction: our agenda includes a whole range of investment projects that are interesting and important for both sides.
The Year of Russian Culture begins in Germany in February next year and we would like it to be a major event in terms of its scope and content. I think it would be proper if we hold a reciprocal event in Russia in 2004. 2004 will be a Year of German Culture in the Russian Federation. As regards the opening of the Year of Russian Culture in Germany, I would be glad to take part in the opening ceremony in Berlin. I thank the Federal Chancellor for the invitation.
We have agreed other joint measures for the near term. Our dialogue will be very full and it will deal not only with our bilateral contacts – key ministers and representatives of the business community will take part in it.
As you know, I arrived here yesterday after a meeting in Brussels and today I briefed the Chancellor on the results of the Russia-European Commission work. I know that the German Government and Mr Chancellor took a very constructive position on one of the key issues of interaction with the European Union, currently a very sensitive issue for us, and that is the life support of the Kaliningrad Region in the light of the coming enlargement of the European Union. And I would like to thank the Federal Chancellor for this.
I think Mr Chancellor and I will have a chance to further discuss the problem of interaction in the development of Kaliningrad, the development of cooperation in that part of Europe, and I am sure it would be good for the united Europe, for Russia and for Germany.
Of course we discussed a wide range of international problems, in the first place, the problem of Iraq on which the Russian and German positions are practically the same. We exchanged opinions on the situation that exists there at present. I would like to stress that Germany’s opinion is very important for us and we will remain in contact on this and many other issues on the international agenda.
Gerhard Schroeder (translated from Russian): I have a lot of things to add. It is true that our relations are developing successfully not only in the economic but also in the cultural sphere. We are glad that Mr President will take part in inaugurating the Russian Culture Year in Germany in 2003.
Russian-German interaction is multifarious. Cooperation in the energy sphere is a strategic area for both countries. We have also discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the aviation field.
Of course we are very glad that at the Russia-EU summit yesterday the two sides came to an agreement during the course of the negotiations in which the Russian President personally took part. It opens up new vistas for the European Union and Russia. I agree that now we must work together to develop the Kaliningrad Region.
We have always expressed and are expressing today our solidarity with Russia and its President on the issue of the fight against terrorism. I follow with great interest and I support the political process in Chechnya, both the way it is organised and the methods used. I am referring in particular to the constitutional process. It marks a good beginning that deserves every support.
As regards Iraq, we welcome the constructive role Russia plays in this process in the framework of the UN Security Council. We believe that the resolution that has been passed gives the Iraqi leadership a chance to solve the existing problem by peaceful means. We hope that scrupulous adherence to the UN resolution will make that possible.
And of course we look forward to seeing the Russian President in Germany in February.
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Question: Mr President, do you expect concrete assistance from the EU or Germany and the German Chancellor personally in dealing with the problem of Chechnya?
Vladimir Putin: You know, that problem is so complicated that it is unlikely that anyone could give an all-embracing recommendation on how to solve it. The problem has its pre-history and there is its current state. Just the day before yesterday I met with the representatives of the Chechen public and the clergy. I think it is an internal problem of Russia, which Russia must solve independently together with the Chechen people in the interests of the Chechen people and the whole of the Russian Federation.
Of course we are not indifferent to the opinion of our colleagues in Europe, the opinion of the Federal Chancellor. We are interested in the experience of other countries. There are some good examples of the resolution of disputes in Europe. True, there are also instances of conflicts which have dragged on for hundreds of years and have still not been resolved.
I would like to say that we are not going to be arrogant and say that we don’t care about your opinion and we will do as we like. Of course we will heed your opinion and react to all the friendly advice from all those who really want to help us to resolve that situation.
But we are not going to palm that problem off on anyone, it is a problem for the Russian Federation, we must solve it and I am sure that we will do it.
Question: Mr Chancellor, a German TV channel recently broadcast an interview with a former citizen of Grozny [Subar Magomedova] who admitted to killing three Russian soldiers and a Chechen policeman. Under the rules of German justice can such a person be free and have the status of a political refugee in Germany?
Gerhard Schroeder: I cannot give you a legal assessment just now. I haven’t seen that broadcast. But I proceed on the basis that the German authorities should look at these statements and look at these words to see if they correspond to the German Constitution and German legislation. If a person admits to having committed murder, then of course consequences must ensue. There will be a corresponding assessment and a corresponding reaction. As soon as I am back in Berlin today I will call the Justice Minister and draw her attention to this fact.
Question: What is your assessment of the UN Security Council resolution? Do you have direct contacts with Baghdad? Do you know what Hussein’s answer is? What could be the consequences of a negative answer?
Vladimir Putin: As regards contacts, we have such contacts; we are explaining our position to the Iraqi side. Our position is known: the adoption of a resolution, in our opinion, is a good way to avoid war. It is tougher than the previous one and we assume that Baghdad will take this chance in order to avoid a showdown.
As to what decision the Iraqi leadership and Hussein will take, only he knows. We have the impression that there are different points of view on the issue in the Iraqi society, but on the whole, we feel that there has been a positive response to the UN Security Council resolution.
We hope that the Arab countries will express their point of view on the issue, will influence the position of Iraq considering that the interests of the Arab countries at the Security Council were represented by Syria, which also voted for the resolution.
I must add that in the process of work on the Iraq resolution we were in permanent contact with the German Government, with Mr Chancellor; and it is to a large extent the result of the work not only of the group of countries that are members of the Security Council, but it is the result of a broader effort. So we are highly satisfied with our joint work with Germany on this matter. I think the leadership of Iraq is aware of it and it must take it into account.
Gerhard Schroeder: First, we have no official contacts with Iraq. Secondly, I made it very clear that we hope and expect that the UN Security Council resolution will be implemented in full. And full compliance with the Security Council resolution is precisely the task that faces the Iraqi leadership. Allowing international inspectors into the country and allowing them to act in the framework of the resolution would permit the conflict to be settled by peaceful means. This is the position of the German Government.
Question: What is the current state of energy cooperation between the two countries?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, we have discussed these issues. Broadly, we spoke about the implementation of the earlier agreement. I have briefed Mr Chancellor on other possible energy projects. We have agreed that we will not only continue this work at the inter-governmental level, but will involve businesses in it.