German Ambassador: Kaliningrad can become laboratory for developing cooperation between EU and Russia

EU expansion will give Kaliningrad the opportunity to become a large-scale laboratory for developing a wide range of mechanisms for cooperation between Russia and Europe. This was announced by German Ambassador to Russia Hans-Friedrich von Plotz, who arrived in Kaliningrad yesterday on a three-day familiarization visit. He was accompanied by German businessmen working in Moscow who would also like to learn more about prospects for cooperation in the region.

The programme for the ambassador's visit includes meetings and talks with city and regional leaders, and representatives of the local branch of the Foreign Ministry. The ambassador intends to discuss opening a German Consulate in Kaliningrad. In addition, the delegation will meet representatives of Kaliningrad business circles and German businesspeople working locally, as well as visiting the Baltfer joint Russian-German agricultural enterprise, the Avtotor car assembly plant, which produces BMW vehicles, and the commercial sea port.

Hans-Friedrich von Plotz has been Germany's ambassador to Russia since summer 2001. He studied law in Marburg and Berlin, before working in Washington. He has been Germany's ambassador to NATO and London.