Germany and Russia stressed their interest today in pursuing their strategic partnership in talks between Kremlin leaders and Berlin"s new foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, according to dpa. Westerwelle, making his first trip to Moscow since his recent appointment as foreign minister in Germany"s new coalition government, met Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Dmitry Medvedev, as well as human rights groups representatives. The head of Berlin"s junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats, was quick in stressing German interest in strong ties with Russia. "There are no if"s, and"s or but"s: We want a strategic partnership with Russia," Westerwelle said. "We want more than just a good trade and economic partner." He added that Germany"s interests also included more cooperation in the fields of justice and culture and "to deepen the friendship between our two peoples." Amid the overall atmosphere of harmony, Lavrov had clear words for his German guest about saying anything about a new upcoming trial against Kremlin oppoinent Mikhail Khodorkovski. Germany and Russia should have mutual respect for each other"s judicial systems, Lavrov said.
