Schroeder ends Russian holiday

Schroeder ends Russian holiday

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".