MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Interests of Russia and Germany are not contradictory in the pan-European context, Russia’s Federation Council International Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachev said on Thursday at a meeting with Norbert Roettgen, chairman of the Bundestag's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Most differences in the positions of Russia and Germany are connected with the fact that the sides rely on different sources of information, Kosachev stressed.
"Most of our differences and disagreements are based not on professing different values but on assessing differently the current situation because we rely on different sources of information. Secondly, we possibly pursue different interests," the lawmaker noted.
The first issue can be "adjusted" by relying on objective sources, while the second needs detailed discussions, he added. "Interests of Russia and Germany are not contradictory in the pan-European context, in our estimation," Kosachev said.
He spoke in favor of developing bilateral inter-parliamentary ties with Bundestag (lower chamber of German parliament) and Bundesrat (upper chamber). "Any inter-parliamentary contacts are crucial now," taking into consideration the complicated situation in and around Ukraine, Kosachev noted. The lawmaker also praised Germany’s role in the Minsk process.
Developing inter-parliamentary contacts with United States
On February 17, Russia’s Federation Council (FC) called for facilitating inter-parliamentary contacts between Russia and the US, Kosachev said on Tuesday after a meeting with US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft.
A corresponding request was sent to US Senate, Kosachev noted. "During the meeting [with Tefft], I spoke in favor of restoring and subsequently facilitating inter-parliamentary contacts. I also informed [Tefft] that I have already sent a letter to Senator [Bob] Corker, notifying him about my new position as an FC International Affairs Committee head and proposing to facilitate inter-parliamentary contacts," he said.
"I sent similar proposals to colleagues in other countries. I have already received positive answers from some of them in the east, as well as in the west. I hope that today’s meeting with Ambassador [Tefft] will also facilitate the development of inter-parliamentary contacts," Kosachev said.
"We understand that [US] senators, our colleagues, have an absolutely biased view of what is happening in Ukraine," he stressed. "However, we are ready to facilitate such contacts on the basis of equality and respect to each other’s interests, without forcing one’s will on one another," Kosachev concluded.