Merkel Russia visit marred
June 21, 2013
German chancellery spokesman Steffen Seibert said that officials from both countries had decided to cancel opening remarks at an exhibition in St. Petersburg by visiting German Chancellor Angela and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The exhibition in St. Petersburg's Ermitage Museum, "Bronze Age: Europe Without Borders," includes items seized by Soviet soldiers during and after World War II.
Germany has long sought the return of 600 so-called "looted" artworks, citing international law, but Russia has refused, arguing that the treasures were paid for with heavy loss of life among Soviet soldiers.
News of the cancellation of the exhibition opening remarks by both leaders emerged just before Merkel's flight to St. Petersburg. Accompanying Merkel to the international economic forum - hosted annually by Russian since 1997 - is a German trade delegation.
Disagreement over intended remarks
The German news agency DPA reported that German delegation sources said the decision stemmed from disagreement with Russian officials over introductory remarks in which the chancellor would have referred to the disputed artworks.
The exhibition - featuring some 1,700 items spanning the three-millenia Bronze Age - is a cooperative venture between the Ermitage and numerous museums in Moscow and Berlin.
St. Petersburg is Russia's second largest city. Next year, it marks the 70th anniversary of the end of blockade of then-Leningrad by former Nazi German forces during WWII, when many residents died of starvation.
Putin talks Syria
At an appearance with Merkel at the economic forum, Putin defended arms sales to the Syrian government, while saying the US should not arm "terrorist groups."
"If the United States ... recognizes one of the key Syrian opposition organizations, al-Nusra, as terrorist ... how can one deliver arms to those opposition members," Putin asked. "Where will [those weapons] end up? What role will they play?"
US President Barack Obama decided last week to arm Syrian rebels after claiming to have evidence of chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime. Russia, meanwhile, has been supportive of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has provided his government with military aid.
ipj,dr/mkg (dpa, Reuters, AFP)