Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder criticized the Group of Seven industrialized countries (G7) summit for being held without Russian President Vladimir Putin and said it was a mistake not to invite the head of the Kremlin to the gathering at the Bavarian Elmau Castle and that Europe's future lies only with Russia.
Precisely when there are different positions, one has to talk, Schroeder told "Rajniše Post" and added that at the G7 summit, which is being held this weekend, it was possible to do just that.
"I think it was a mistake that the Russian president was not invited to that summit," Schroeder said, adding that Russia has an alternative for Europe, but Europe does not have one for Russia.
"The future of Europe is only with Russia," said Schroeder, who is considered a friend of Putin.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel herself said at the beginning of the year that she does not count on Putin's arrival at the G7 summit and linked it to the Ukrainian crisis.
This weekend, the G25.000 summit is being held in Elmau Castle, with the involvement of as many as 7 police officers, which critics say is too expensive, the venue close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is inappropriate, and the politicians are unable to solve the accumulated problems.
The G7 will deal with political crisis solutions, from the Ukrainian crisis to the Middle East, economic issues, but also the protection of the sea, women and labor relations, as well as other issues of global importance, the organizers announce, and the media write that there is already a state of emergency in the vicinity of the castle and that the security authorities are afraid of violent demonstrations against the G7 and globalization.
However, when it comes to Schroeder, since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis, he has been making different statements than other European and German politicians expressing his understanding of Moscow's position.
Schröder said these days that if he had been chancellor, he would, without a doubt, have been at the parade in Moscow this year on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and reminded that Nazi Germany had caused immense pain to the then Soviet Union.
"I consider it correct to show responsibility for that. I took note that Chancellor Angela Merkel, taking into account the international circumstances, did not go. I would have made a different decision. However, Merkel was in Moscow a day later and laid a wreath together with the Russian president .It was a good signal for German-Russian relations," Schröder praised Merkel's actions.
When asked by the tabloid "Bild" whether he would still say that Putin is his friend, he answered in the affirmative.
"Yes, for sure," said Schroeder and, regarding the events in Ukraine, assessed that history and the current situation must be separated from each other and that regardless of the fact that one cannot agree with everything that the current Russian government is doing, one must admit that there is a historical responsibility.
He also explained this by the fact that during the Iraq war, when the Germans were against it, Germany still protected the American barracks in Germany.
When it comes to relations with Russia and Putin, Schroeder said that it must be known that there are certain fears in Russia, to which a Russian president must react.
"That's why the way in which the West treats Russia is not always correct. In the Ukrainian issue, they always talk only about tightening and extending sanctions against Russia. Why don't Western politicians once ask themselves whether the sanctions can be eased or abolished, when it comes to to progress in Ukraine," Shroder said.
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