Russia 100715 Basic Political Developments

RIA: Medvedev, Merkel to discuss Nord Stream project, visa regime

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100715/159817552.html
04:24 15/07/2010

The Russian president and German chancellor will meet on Thursday in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg for a top-level discussion on a wide range of issues — from the Nord Stream gas pipeline project to simplified visa regime.

Dmitry Medvedev and Angela Merkel will meet at a working breakfast on Thursday morning, followed by a meeting with Russian and German businessmen. The two leaders will later attend a session of a Russian-German forum St. Petersburg Dialogue currently underway in Yekaterinburg.

The Russian-German interstate consultations will begin at noon. Trade and economic relations, the Nord Stream gas pipeline project, simplified visa regime between Russia and the European Union, cooperation between Russian and German regions are on the agenda.

An aide to the Russian president, Sergei Prikhodko, earlier said that the two leaders will also address international issues, including violence in Kyrgyzstan, North Korea's nuclear program and situation in de-facto independent republics of Nagorny Karabakh and Transdnestr.

A total of 10 bilateral documents are expected to be signed, including a memorandum of understanding between the Skolkovo foundation, which supervises the eponymous innovation hub outside of Moscow, and Germany's Siemens AG.

The Russian companies Rostekhnologii (Russian Technology) and RusHydro will sign a partnership agreement with Siemens AG to establish a joint venture manufacturing hydroelectric power units.

Russian railway monopoly RZD and Siemens will sign a memorandum to establish a joint venture for supply and maintenance of high-speed trains.

MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti)

Moscow News: Medvedev hints at visa change

http://www.mn.ru/politics/20100715/187929747.html
Source Tom Washington at 15/07/2010

Foreign investors planning to work within the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus can look forward to comfortable conditions, President Medvedev announced on Thursday.

And that could mean relaxations in visa regulations between Russia and the Schengen countries in due course, RIA Novosti reported.

The issue arose during the Russia-Germany dialogue in Yekaterinburg this week, and Medvedev said: “We have been discussing this topic. It is of course not a simple issue, but it is clear that a high-quality partnership between Russia and the European Union and Russia and Germany as a member of the European Union would be impossible [without solving this issue].”

AFP: Merkel to oversee economic deals on Russia visit

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ie45bTpuD6LD9PhRqCxIUOjCEX5w

(AFP) – 3 hours ago

YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were set on Thursday to oversee a flurry of economic deals to further cement the Moscow-Berlin relationship.

German government sources say Siemens will sign 2.2-billion-euro (2.8-billion-dollar) order to supply Russian Railways with more than 200 trains for its regional network at the meeting in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Siemens chief executive Peter Loescher will be one of the 25 business leaders accompanying Merkel to Russia and on to China and Kazakhstan.

While a spokesman for Russian Railways declined comment to AFP ahead of the signing, a Moscow-based spokesman for Siemens, Denis Perkin, confirmed the two companies would sign a contract but declined details.

He added Siemens also planned to ink an agreement to help Russia develop the Skolkovo high-tech hub outside Moscow -- Russia's answer to Silicon Valley -- and another deal with state conglomerate Russian Technologies and RusHydro utility company.

During the summit -- the leaders' fifth encounter this year -- Medvedev and Merkel will discuss the setting up of "strategic alliances" between Russian and German companies in railway, aviation and energy industries, the Kremlin said.

"The common aim of the efforts being undertaken -- a quality improvement of business cooperation -- is in line with the modernization tasks Russia faces," the Kremlin said ahead of the bilateral summit.

Talks were to get underway at around 0330 GMT, followed by a news conference at 0730 GMT.

Medvedev this week told Russian diplomats that one of their top tasks was to help businesses forge economic alliances with the West as the Kremlin seeks to wean the country off oil and gas exports as its main economic motor.

"We need special modernization alliances with our main international partners," Medvedev said. "First and foremost with countries such as Germany, France, Italy, the European Union on the whole, (and) with the United States."

In Yekaterinburg, Medvedev and Merkel will also discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme, the Afghanistan conflict and Russia's relations with the European Union.

Merkel, who nothetheless is considerably less cosy with Moscow than was her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder, may also raise the issue of human rights.

Thursday will be the first anniversary of the murder of journalist and human rights activist Natalya Estemirova, whose body was found in Ingushetia hours after she was abducted from Chechnya, in the Caucasus.

-- Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this report –

Russia Today: Merkel-led German delegation arrives in Russia for talks

http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-07-15/russia-germany-delegation-dialogue.html/print

15 July, 2010, 08:51

A large number of German politicians and business chiefs led by Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Russia to meet with President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss European security, energy issues and civil society.

After meeting in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg to discuss Russian-German relations, the two leaders will also participate in the Petersburg Dialogue – an event, which for ten years has focused on the development of civil society in both Germany and Russia.

Business talks are also on the agenda, with a number of multi-million dollar investment deals due to be signed between Moscow and Berlin.

Russia is the first stop on Angela Merkel's foreign tour, which will also include visits to China and Kazakhstan.