RUSSIA: German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern about Russia's clampdown on civil rights groups during her first visit to Moscow yesterday.
Ushering in what appears to be a cooler relationship with Moscow than that enjoyed by her predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, Dr Merkel said she was concerned that new restrictions on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could harm democracy.
Russia is passing a law restricting foreign NGOs from operating in Russia, saying it is worried about possible infiltration by terrorists and foreign powers.
Dr Merkel said of her talks: "I emphasised that we will very closely follow that the law is implemented in such a way that NGOs would be able to continue their work."
Mr Putin said the law limiting these groups had been modified to meet Moscow's obligations under Council of Europe rules and that genuine rights organisations would not be hindered.
"We will see to it that after the law on non-governmental organisations comes into force . . . no harm will be done to NGOs functioning in accordance with their stated goals," he said.
The six-hour visit presented the world with a cooler vision of the German-Russian "strategic partnership" forged by Dr Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schröder.
There were polite handshakes instead of the back-slapping bonhomie enjoyed between Mr Putin and the former chancellor.
Dr Merkel said she supported a "strategic partnership" between the two nations, adding: "I am confident that we can expand our co-operation and partnership, broaden its foundation and make it more intensive." Yet behind the polite gestures, no apparent progress was made on key issues that divide the countries.
Germany took a leading role in the European Union's support of Ukraine when it refused to pay quadrupled charges for Russian gas earlier this month.
Dr Merkel has also signalled her concern over human rights, both in Russia generally and in Chechnya, where the Council of Europe has complained about violations by security forces.
The chancellor said before her meeting that she would be asking Mr Putin about his ideas as the new leader of the G8 group of industrialised nations, amid fears that Russia intended to use its gas supply as a trade weapon. Germany buys 30 per cent of its gas from Russia.
The gas issue has extra sensitivity in Germany because of criticism of Mr Schröder for accepting a job with the Russian state-owned Gazprom consortium, which is building a pipeline across the Baltic.
Dr Merkel's background may make forging a personal chemistry with Mr Putin problematic. She grew up in East Germany as a firm opponent of the communist system, while Mr Putin was employed in Germany with the KGB and was responsible for monitoring opponents of the regime. Yet Dr Merkel acknowledged that economically the two nations are closer than ever, describing a 30 per cent increase in trade over the past 12 months, to €28 billion, as "breathtaking".