Merkel-Medvedev Meet

donsutherland1 · 08-15-08, 11:12 AM

Today, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a previously scheduled meeting that was initially intended to deal with matters concerning opportunities and ideas for strategic cooperation. Much of the discussion was devoted to recent developments in Georgia. From the statement issued by the Kremlin afterward, it appears that the discussions yielded little meaningful progress toward defusing the current situation in Georgia. The Kremlin released the following statement following the meeting:

The conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia was the main subject of discussion at the one-on-one talks.

Mr Medvedev and Mrs Merkel discussed the current situation and the prospects for a peace settlement based on the six agreed principles, which Mr Medvedev said provide the required and sufficient foundation for resolving the problem. The two leaders also discussed measures to deal with the humanitarian disaster, in particular aid for refugees and help in rebuilding infrastructure.

Mr Medvedev declared the need to establish and guarantee peace in the North Caucasus. The President also reaffirmed that Russia will support the decisions the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia make concerning the future of their republics and as guarantor of security in the region will make these decisions the guideline in its foreign policy in accordance with the peacekeeping mandate in effect.

From the statement:

1. It appears that Russia reiterated its existing position concerning developments in Georgia.
2. Russia remained steadfast in its support for the terms of the Sarkozy ceasefire agreement. The agreement bars all parties from using force to settle the Abkhazia and South Ossetia disputes, does not cite Georgia's territorial integrity, and permits Russia to "implement additional security measures" without providing any specificity that would constrain those steps.
3. Russia remains committed to its interpretation that the principle of "self determination" for the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia trumps Georgia's territorial integrity.
4. Russia will militarily guarantee that Georgia cannot use force to retake those breakaway provinces.
5. Chancellor Merkel had differences. No mention was made of her positions, much less agreement with any of the Russian ideas concerning the situation in Georgia.
6. There seemed to be some understanding about proceeding with humanitarian assistance and exploration of means to do so.

Infinite Chaos · 08-15-08, 11:44 AM

Straight after the meeting, Medvedev has condemned the deal to site US missiles in Poland.

Quote:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that a preliminary deal allowing the US to site missiles in Poland is aimed against Russia.

Poland will host the missiles as part of a defence shield the US says it needs against "rogue states" like Iran.

But Mr Medvedev said it demonstrated that Russia's concerns about new systems in eastern Europe were valid.

"The deployment of new anti-missile forces has as its aim the Russian Federation," he said.

Mr Medvedev was speaking at a press conference after holding talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the on-going unrest in Georgia.

Under the deal signed on Thursday, the US will install 10 interceptor missiles at a base on the Baltic coast in return for help strengthening Polish air defences.

A top general in Moscow said the move would worsen ties with the West already strained by the Georgian conflict.

'Worsen ties'

Russia's envoy to Nato has meanwhile been quoted as saying the timing of the deal shows its true purpose is to counter Russia's "strategic potential".

At a press conference in Moscow on Friday, Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said the US move "cannot go unpunished".

"It's a cause for regret that at a time when we are already in a difficult situation, the American side further exacerbates the situation in relations between the United States and Russia," Gen Nogovitsyn said.

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There are currently only 10 missiles but the Russians will seek to deflect any and all criticism of their actions in Georgia and this is one handy way.