Initially scheduled for October 24 in Berlin, the negotiations between President Putin and Chancellor Schroeder were postponed after the hostage crisis at the theatre on Dubrovka Street, Moscow. Germany proposed to change the venue to Oslo as both leaders intended to visit Norway.
Mr Putin and Mr Schroeder discussed topical international problems—in particular, the situation in Iraq after the UN Security Council adopted its resolution to toughen inspections, the situation in the Middle East, Russia-NATO Council work and many aspects of the upcoming enlargement of NATO.
They analysed the achievements of the Russia-European Union summit, which ended in Brussels the day before, and agreed to step up united efforts for further development of the Kaliningrad Region. They also discussed prospects for a Russian-German gas consortium and the implementation of earlier agreements in the energy and humanitarian spheres. Mr Putin accepted Mr Schroeder’s invitation to take part in the opening of the Year of Russian Culture in Germany, due in February 2003, and proposed to make 2004 the Year of German Culture in Russia.
The two leaders made press statements and addressed a news conference after the negotiations.