Schroeder ends Russian holiday

Mon, 08 Jan 2001 | Source: DPA

MOSKOW (DPA): Sightseeing and a sleigh ride topped the agenda Sunday as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder wound up what has been officially billed as a private visit to Russia.

Sources with the German delegation said Schroeder and his host, Russian President Vladimir Putin, had "got along well" during the first day of the visit Saturday, which involved Orthodox Christmas festivities and an exchange of views between the two leaders.

Schroeder, who arrived earlier Saturday in Moscow with his wife Doris, said no important political issues had yet been discussed. But Putin said they had spoken about Russia's relations with the European Union and the outcome of the EU summit in Nice last month.

Asked about reported Russian plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, Putin replied in German: "That is rubbish".

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