“For the first time ever,” Russia and the western European nations are considering “cooperation in the security and defense fields,” according to official Russian sources.
Dr. Javier Solana, high representative of the European Union for common foreign and security policy, and former secretary general of NATO, exhibited “visible interest” in a close working relationship between the Russian military and the planned EU rapid reaction force during his recent meeting with top Russian officials in Moscow.
Solana described Russian-European relations as “strategic,” and developing “satisfactorily.”
The report was carried by the Voice of Russia World Service, the official broadcasting service of the Russian government.
On April 6, the defense ministers of the EU member nations meeting at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, also called for Russian participation in the planned European force.
Solana’s confidence in the future of Russian/EU relations was echoed by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Schroeder has recently stated that Russia is a “key factor” in European stability. He also stated that both Germany and NATO must develop a “long range security partnership” with Moscow.
Schroeder’s remarks are particularly significant since Germany is the strongest economy in Europe, as well as one of the leading nations of NATO and the EU.
Germany’s stakes are particularly high in Russia, since Berlin is both Russia’s largest trading partner and investor.
Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding an historic meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, today. More than 500 top officials from both sides were scheduled to attend, including the defense, foreign, economic and interior ministers of both nations.
A few days before the current meeting with Putin, Schroeder described Russia as Germany’s “strategic partner,” and said the two nations “see many international problems eye to eye,” according to Moscow.
Schroeder made similar statements during a meeting with Putin in June. At that time, Schroeder called for Russia to be included “in a system of European security.”
Schroeder has also declared that “Russia is playing a key role in guaranteeing lasting security and stability in Europe.”
In addition to defense considerations, economic and financial negotiations figure prominently in the talks. Moscow and Berlin are expected to reach an agreement providing for part of Russia’s $2 billion debt to Germany to be exchanged for shares of Russian enterprises in which German corporations have already invested money.
At present, some 2,000 German firms are operating in Russia.
Russian and western European relations have been growing steadily closer for some time, but especially within the last year. In November, the EU and Russia signed an agreement providing for substantial mutual technical cooperation. In October, Moscow and Brussels signed an agreement that some observers say paved the way for Russian participation in EU military affairs.
It was at the October meeting between officials from Moscow and Brussels that the two sides signed an agreement providing for substantial EU dependence upon Russia as a major energy supplier. Russian oil and gas are to flow to western Europe, while Europe is to assist in the extraction of those resources.
Europe is counting on Russia becoming its energy supplier at prices “more stable” than presently available through traditional Mideast sources.
A number of European politicians at the time of the signing of the agreement between Russia and the EU viewed the accord as possibly turning into an “element” that could eventually lead to a greater degree of “political closeness,” according to Moscow.
In a March statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its desire that “no more iron curtains” separate Russia from the rest of Europe.
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