Germany Wants New Strategic Partnership With Russia

SUPERPOWERS

don't worry,... it's just empty rhetoric

by Staff Writers
Berlin (AFP) March 4, 2008
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Tuesday he wants to make Russia a central ally following Dmitry Medvedev's sweeping presidential win.

"Russia is and remains an indispensable strategic partner if we want to secure peace in Europe," Steinmeier said. "But it's not only us who need Russia -- Russia also needs us."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet Medvedev in Moscow on Saturday, and Steinmeier said the new Kremlin chief has expressed a similar desire to create a new partnership with the West.

"Let us take the (new) president at his word," Steinmeier added. "Let us accept his partnership proposition. Russia's transformation -- it's as much in his interest as it is in ours."

Steinmeier stressed the need for the European Union to develop closer ties with (former Soviet) countries in central Asia and the Caucasus as well as the Ukraine and Belarus -- providing the latter agrees to work on its human rights record.

He also floated the idea of enshrining a new charter with Russia, focused on democracy and peace.

"The Cold War is today definitively consigned to history," Steinmeier said.

Tensions over issues such as the siting of an American anti-missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic could more easily be managed through such an accord, he suggested.

"The European Union and Russia should, as soon as possible, enter negotiations on a new agreement covering cooperation and partnership," he said.

Talks could also tackle issues as diverse as global warming and the teaching of history, he added.

Movement by Ukraine "in the right direction" offers a roadmap, he stated.

Regarding Kiev's hopes of NATO accession, Steinmeier said that for all Berlin supports Ukraine's candidacy, "the process should not undermine efforts to anchor a (lasting) European stability."

"Hasty decisions do no-one any good -- not even the Ukraine," he added.

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

SUPERPOWERS

Taiwan boosts military spending amid China increase

Taipei (AFP) March 4, 2008
Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday said the island had beefed up defence spending against rival China's threat, while the mainland announced a nearly 18 percent funding increase for its military.

INTERNET SPACE Google stock price sinks on Internet ad-slump fears HP And Qualcomm To Deliver Options For Worldwide Internet Access Google's Android debuts in Barcelona Nokia says to launch touch-screen phone in late '08	LAUNCH PAD ILS To Launch Two SIRIUS Radio Satellite On Proton Breeze M Ariane 5 Star One C2 Satellite Launch Campaign Underway ILS Announces Contract To Launch Two Sirius Satellite Radio Spacecraft On Proton Breeze M Arianespace Prepares For Its First Two Ariane 5 Missions Of 2008
AEROSPACE Environmentalists climb on Heathrow jet in airport protest: officials NASA opens a rotary wing research project All-star line-up at first Singapore Airshow Military Aircraft To Perform Aviation Safety Research	MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS Northrop Grumman Delivers Payload Module For Second Advanced EHF Military Communications Satellite Orbital Awarded Contract For System F6 Satellite Program By DARPA Lockheed Martin Completes Rigorous Test Of First Advanced Military Communications Satellite Northrop Grumman And Harris Demonstrate Airborne Networking
TECH SPACE Europe's GEANT computer network extends its reach Siberian Shepherd Seeks A Million Rubles Over Rocket Fragment Fall Boeing Satellites Reach 2500 Years Of Accumulated On Orbit Services Satellite Debris Analysis Indicates Hydrazine Tank Hit	APPOINTMENTS NASA Names John Shannon New Space Shuttle Manager Michael Larkin Appointed Executive Vice President Of Orbital's Satellite Business Unit Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Looks To Future With Leadership Changes Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Names Carey VP For ISR Systems
EARTH OBSERVATION Falcon Investigates Pollution From The Dakar Metropolis Into Desert Dust Layers NASA Extends Mission For Ball Aerospace-Built ICESat CIRA Scientist Among Authors Of Book Celebrating 50 Years Of Earth Observations From Space Indonesia To Develop New EO Satellite	GPS NEWS Trimble Introduces Flexible GNSS Mapping And GIS Solution SatNAV Start-Up Companies At CeBIT 2008 Radar Satellite Provides Clear View Of Traffic Even In Dark And Fog Columbus Brings New Personal Navigation Solution To Outdoor Tourism

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement