PRESS RELEASE

On October 2, talks between Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and FRG Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier took place in St. Petersburg during the tenth round of Russian-German Interstate Consultations at the highest level involving members of the governments that was held under the chairmanship of President Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation and FRG Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A broad range of issues of the pressing global and pan-European agenda, including the prospects for the development of Russia-EU and Russia-NATO relations, interaction within the G8 and cooperation among the Six on Iran's nuclear program, was touched upon. Mutual interest was expressed in the further effective use of the channels of dialogue and practical interaction meeting the development goals in the conditions of a multipolar world.

In discussing the ways of establishing a lasting peace and stability in the region of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia emphasis from the Russian side was laid on the need for all the concerned parties to take into account the realities that have evolved in the region after Georgia's aggression against the people of South Ossetia.

The sides agreed with the necessity of fully implementing the settlement plan agreed to by the President of Russia and the President of France in Moscow on August 12 and September 8, 2008.

Considering the deficiencies of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture that have become evident in the context of the events in the Caucasus, an important theme of the exchange of views was the initiative of Russian President Medvedev for concluding a new legally binding agreement on collective security in Europe, which has been positively received in the FRG. Consultations will continue on ways to develop and transfer it onto a plane of practical realization.

A strong belief was voiced that there are no real alternatives to the strategic partnership between Russia and Germany, which are aware as the two largest European states of their responsibility for building a Greater Europe without dividing lines. From this vantage point they continue to cooperate in combating security challenges and threats, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, the global narco-threat and regional conflicts. This concerns the problems of settlement in the Middle East and Afghanistan. An important role in bringing the approaches closer together belongs to the bilateral High-Level Working Group on Security Policy, the effectiveness of whose activities will be increased.

The ministers expressed satisfaction with the course of the implementation of the accords reached as the FRG Vice Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Russia on May 12-16, 2008. The Russian and German Foreign Ministries follow up on the projects of cooperation under the course towards imparting to it the quality of a Modernization Partnership. In particular, emphasis will be placed on humanitarian ties, including improving the conditions of activity of cultural centers and perfecting and renewing the juridical base of relations.

October 2, 2008