Russia and Germany Agreed to Jointly Develop Kaliningrad Region

Today at a meeting in Oslo President Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder discussed a number of issues concerning both Russia-Germany and international relations. The press office of the Russian government said that the two leaders had agreed to cooperate on the further development of the Kaliningrad Region and had also discussed plans to cooperate in the energy sphere. Mr Putin emphasised that it was necessary not only to 'increase cooperation on an intergovernmental level' but also to 'bring business circles together.'

President of Russia Vladimir Putin accepted the german Chancellor's invitation to come to Berlin in February to attend the opening ceremony of the 'Year of Russian Culture' in Germany. Mr Putin also said there were plans to name 2004 the 'Year of German Culture' in Russia.