MOSCOW, October 12 (KATAKAMI / Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hopes that the negotiations with his German counterpart Christian Wulff will be fruitful and interesting. Medvedev stated about it Tuesday opening a narrow-format meeting with his German counterpart. Before the negotiations both leaders with their spouses were participating in an official welcome ceremony of the German high guest, who is on a state visit in Russia.
“I hope for interesting and fruitful negotiations,” Medvedev stated.
“The scale of your visit notes broad and diversified relations between Germany and Russia,” Medvedev said. “Our relations are strategic, partnership and highly developed,” he pointed out. “Germany is our major partner in the European Union,” the Russian president remarked. “We have highly developed economic ties and we also have special relations between political structures, regions, parties, civil society institutions; all this is making the essence of relations,” the president underlined.
“We should develop various trends of cooperation,” Medvedev urged, noting humanitarian contacts in this respect.
The German president agreed with his Russian counterpart that his visit will contribute to the development of bilateral relations. “I hope that we will have an opportunity to discuss all issues we are interested in,” Wulff said.
“Germany and Russia have a long common changeable history and we take your friendship as a great gift to the German people,” he said. “Our mutual sympathy and interests confirm how close our peoples are,” the German president added.
“We are following with a keen interest the situation in your country and consider ourselves as natural partners in promoting the modernization in Russia,” Wulff said. “We are seeking to intensify relations with your country, which is passing the stage of reforms, and to expand relations not only in economy, but also in education, legal protection, public institutions and culture,” he added.
