Medvedev, Merkel to discuss preparations for July summit, economic issues - Prikhodko
MOSCOW. May 25 (Interfax) - The meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel scheduled to take place at the G-8 summit in Deauville, France, on Friday will address the preparations for Russian-German top-level interstate consultations and the economic situation in the EU.
The next Russian-German interstate consultations are scheduled to take place in Hannover in July, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters. He also recalled that Medvedev has invited Merkel to the Third World Political Forum, scheduled to take place in the fall in Yaroslavl, as one of the main guests.
Prikhodko said that the meeting between Medvedev and Merkel will address bilateral cooperation, particularly in light of the Russian-German Year of Education, Science and Innovations, which started on May 23.
The leaders of the two countries will discuss energy cooperation and the prospects of contacts in some high-tech industries, Prikhodko said. "We will be interested to hear the chancellor's evaluation of the economic situation in Europe and Germany," he said.
On the foreign policy track, the two leaders will pay special attention to the current situation in the Middle East and Northern Africa, Prikhodko said. He recalled that Germany's position on Libya is very consistent (Merkel has never met with Muammar Gaddhafi, has not visited Libya, and has not met with his representatives).
Before the Russia-EU summit scheduled to take place in Nizhny Novgorod in June, Medvedev and Merkel will exchange opinions on issues relating to the formation of the updated European security architecture and the development of a strategic partnership between Russia and the EU. The meeting will address Russia's initiatives on the transition to visa-free travel between Russia and the EU, cooperation under the Partnership for Modernization program, and the situation with European interaction in the sphere of energy.
The meeting will also address the Russia-NATO partnership with regard for the plans to create a missile defense system in Europe.