Tag Archives: North Asia

Germany

Germany is ready for a ‘new chapter’ in transatlantic relations | Instant News


BERLIN, February 19 (Reuters) – Germany is poised for a “new chapter” in transatlantic relations in which the United States and Europe follow a common agenda, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

“In our principles and values, in our belief in democracy and its ability to act, we have a broad and sound basis,” he told the Munich Security Conference via video link.

“There is a lot to be done, and Germany is gearing up for a new transatlantic chapter.”

Big challenges like the pandemic and climate change must be tackled together in multilateralism, he said, and the United States and Europe must have a similar attitude towards Russia.

“It is very important for us to develop a general Russian transatlantic agenda, which on the one hand makes cooperative offers, but on the other hand clearly identifies differences,” he said. (Reporting by Paul Carrel; Written by Maria Sheahan)

.



image source

Germany

RPT-UPDATE 1-Germany supports Nord Stream 2 ‘for now’ – Merkel | Instant News


(Repeat to fix slugs, add pix to slugs)

BERLIN / PARIS, Feb. 5 (Reuters) – Germany remains supportive of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline “for the time being,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday after condemning the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Sweden, Germany and Poland.

Russia previously announced the expulsion, accusing diplomats of taking part in illegal protests last month against the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Merkel condemned the expulsion as “unjustified” and Moscow’s next move away from the rule of law.

A German government official said the Foreign Ministry had summoned the Russian ambassador “for an urgent meeting and made Germany’s position very clear to him.”

After speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron, Merkel told reporters: “With regard to events in Russia, we have said that we have the right to continue with sanctions, especially against individuals.”

“The position on Nord Stream 2 is not affected by this at the moment; this is a project where you find out where the federal government is, “Merkel said.

It is a “diplomatic duty” to keep the channels of communication open with Europe’s giant eastern neighbors, he added.

The German position is that Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project. However, Merkel expanded her description of the pipe, which she said she discussed openly with Macron.

“On the one hand, this is a commercial project, on the other hand, it has political implications and plays a big role in the transatlantic region,” said Merkel.

Washington has long argued that the pipeline would increase Russia’s influence over Europe. The new US President Joe Biden believes it is a “bad deal for Europe”.

Navalny’s poisoning and imprisonment have pushed Nord Stream 2 to the top of Germany’s political agenda, creating serious problems for Merkel’s successor following the country’s September elections.

The pioneer to replace Merkel, the new leader of Christian Democrats Armin Laschet, firmly supports Nord Stream 2 but her future government partner, ecologist Greens, is against it.

Macron said he “very harshly” condemned Moscow’s behavior towards Navalny from his poisoning to his arrest and expulsion of foreign diplomats.

On Nord Stream 2, he said: “We have set a European course and I will stick with it. Nothing can be done without close Franco-German cooperation. We want to implement a more sovereign energy transition and a more demanding discussion with Russia ”.

The $ 11 billion pipeline, 90% complete, will double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream line to deliver gas from Russia to Europe via Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Paul Carrel in Berlin, and by Dominique Vidalon in Paris. Edited by Jane Merriman

.



image source

Brazil

Brazil wants to get 30 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from India, Russia | Instant News


BRASILIA, February 3 (Reuters) – Brazil’s Ministry of Health is negotiating the acquisition of 30 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine and India’s Covaxin vaccine, he said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Russian biomedical center Gamaleya will be able to offer 10 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine in February and March if a deal is reached, and Bharat Biotech will be able to offer 8 million doses of Covaxin in February and 12 million more in March, the ministry said. . It said the parties would meet on Friday to discuss a supply deal. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Written by Gram Slattery; editing by Stephen Eisenhammer)

.



image source

Germany

German Merkel condemned Navalny’s sentence, demanding an end to the violence | Instant News


FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves a press conference after meeting with the vaccine producer and the German state prime minister for a “vaccine discussion” via videoconference, in Berlin, Germany February 1, 2021. REUTERS / Hannibal Hanschke / Pool

BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday condemned the sentence of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and sentenced him to three and a half years in prison for breaking the law and demanding an end to violence against peaceful protesters in Russia.

“The verdict against Alexei Navalny is far from the standard of any rule of law. Navalny must be released immediately, ”he was quoted as saying in a tweet by his official spokesman.

“Violence against peaceful demonstrators must stop,” he added.

Reporting by Thomas Escritt, Editing by Franklin Paul

.



image source

Germany

Germany’s new CDU leader continues to support Nord Stream 2 | Instant News


BERLIN, January 25 (Reuters) – The new chairman of Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Party (CDU) said on Monday he would not reconsider his support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to bring Russian natural gas to Europe, even though the US and Europe oppose a settlement. . .

Armin Laschet, who was elected CDU leader this month put him in the lead position to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor, urged Russia to release Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. But when pressed on domestic energy supplies, he said “Germany decides”.

Asked if he would be ready to rethink the pipe, Laschet replied: “No.”

The pipeline, which will double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream link from Russia to Germany and through Ukraine, has met with resistance from Washington, which wants to sell its own seaborne liquefied natural gas to Europe.

Washington says Nord Stream 2 will increase Russia’s economic and political influence in the region. But Russia and Germany have long said it was a commercial project.

EU lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday calling for the bloc to halt the settlement of Nord Stream 2 in response to Navalny’s arrest.

The consortium behind the pipeline said on Sunday that the pipeline laying vessel had started work in Danish waters ahead of the resumption of construction suspended in December 2019 following US sanctions threats.

More than 90% of the project, led by Russian gas giant Gazprom, is already complete.

Referring to his call for immediate release of Navalny, Laschet said this was a point of principle, “but you still have to look for opportunities to cooperate,” he added.

Germany and Russia, he said, had maintained academic and business ties even at the height of the Cold War.

“The Paris agreement on climate change without Russia is only half effective, so this is an area where we have to work with each other to find a good solution,” he told reporters.

Asked if Germany could be open to changing its position on Nord Stream 2 after Merkel spoke with US President Joe Biden, Laschet replied:

“We will talk in great detail about the direction of the relationship. It’s just that the question of Germany’s energy supply is ultimately a question that Germany decides, in a European context. (Written by Paul Carrel; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

.



image source