German Business Community Welcomes Upcoming Merkel-Putin Meeting - Statement

German Business Community Welcomes Upcoming Merkel-Putin Meeting - Statement

The German business community welcomed on Thursday the upcoming meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and expressed a hope for continued bilateral contacts and implementation of new projects, the German Eastern Business Association (OAOEV) said in a statement.

BERLIN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) The German business community welcomed on Thursday the upcoming meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and expressed a hope for continued bilateral contacts and implementation of new projects, the German Eastern Business Association (OAOEV) said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin and Merkel would exchange views on the situations in Ukraine and Syria, and discuss the US sanctions during the Saturday talks in Berlin.

"The contacts between Germany and Russia have significantly intensified within the last several months. We welcome these developments. There is a long list of tasks that can be completed only with Russias participation, and only a dialogue can promote the settlement of these issues as well as joint implementation of new projects," OAOEV head Wolfgang Buechele said, as quoted in the statement.

He pointed out that the fact Russia was ready to continue gas transit through Ukraine, and already engaged in talks with the European Union and Ukraine on the issue was a sign that the German government's policy was successful.

Buechele noted that there were many areas for German-Russian cooperation due to similar interests, including trade regulation and environmental issues, boosting the World Tarde Organizations (WTO) position globally, the fight against illegal migration and international terrorism, and preservation of the Iran nuclear deal.

"However, it is clear that the real normalization [of relations] will be achieved only through a successful peace process in eastern Ukraine. That is why we hope to get more signals and proposals from Moscow. That could provide a great chance for creating a new, positive agenda for EU-Russian relations," he added.

In May, Putin and Merkel held a meeting in the Russia Black Sea resort city of Sochi, during which they discussed a number of issues on the bilateral and international agendas.