The permanent representative of the Republic of Crimea under the President of Russia, Vice-Premier of the Crimean government Georgiy Muradov recalled the unification of the FRG and the GDR, commenting on the words of German foreign Minister Heiko Maas on the status of the Peninsula.
Maas had previously said that expanding the format of the "Big seven" and the inclusion in the group of Russia is hardly possible, not yet "solved the issue of Crimea and Ukraine". According to the diplomat, Moscow has been expelled because of "intervention in Eastern Ukraine".
The only true solution of the Ukrainian question, as urged by the German foreign Ministry, is the recognition of the Russian status of Crimea, told RIA Novosti the head of Committee of the Crimean Parliament's public diplomacy and international relations Yuriy gempel.
Earlier, foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said that further expansion of the format of the "Big seven" and the inclusion in the group, Russia is unlikely to be possible. According to him, not yet resolved the issue of Crimea and Ukraine, the chances of the inclusion of Russia in the format he sees.
Senator Alexei Pushkov commented on the words of the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas, who spoke against the return of Russia to the G7 because of the unresolved Ukrainian question.
According to Pushkov, the statement of the Meuse is assessed not as a response to Moscow, and as a response to US President Donald Trump. The Senator noted that this topic is the subject of "internal discussions the Western allies", as Russia in the G7 aims.
The statement of foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas, who spoke against the return of Russia to the G7 because of the unresolved Ukrainian question, looks especially cynical after the recent telephone conversation between presidents of Russia and Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky and are not aimed at reducing tensions in Russian-Ukrainian relations, told RIA Novosti leading researcher of the Center for German studies Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Kamkin.
Previously, Maas stated that further expansion of the format of the "Big seven" and the inclusion in the group, Russia is unlikely to be possible. According to him, not yet resolved the issue of Crimea and Ukraine, the chances of the inclusion of Russia in the format he sees.
Germany opposes Russia's return to the format of the "Big seven", said the German foreign Minister Heiko Maas in an interview with Rheinische Post.
The diplomat stressed that the reason for the exclusion of Moscow from this format was the reunification with Crimea and the situation in Ukraine.
Germany calls on UN Secretary-General antónio Guterres as soon as possible to establish the post of special representative on climate and security, said at a meeting of the UN security Council, foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"It's time to make the issue of climate and security look. We encourage the Secretary-General to appoint a special representative on climate and security as soon as possible," said Maas, noting that climate change is a threat to peace and security.
Germany believes that Turkey must cease drilling in the EEZ of Cyprus and not to start similar work in close proximity to the Greek Islands, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas after talks in Athens with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.
Turkey was one of the main issues of the meeting. Greece at all levels raises the question of Turkey's plans to start drilling near Crete and on the ongoing work near Cyprus.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas stated that Europe needs Russia, it is necessary to communicate, but to follow clear principles.
"The relationship with Russia means not only sanctions and their extension. Europe needs Russia, for example, to resolve various conflicts, such as those occurring now in Syria and Libya. We should talk to them, but should follow clear principles," - said Monday the Meuse at a press conference in Tallinn after meeting with the foreign Ministers of the Baltic States. The broadcast was carried out in Facebook, the Estonian foreign Ministry.
The head of the Munich security conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, commented on the situation around the US sanctions against the gas pipeline project "Nord stream 2".
"U.S. trade with Russia is OK, and the trade of Germany with Russia - not OK?" - wrote Ischinger on Twitter, responding to a message former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenelle.
The sentence a German journalist of Turkish origin Deniz Hugely in Istanbul is "absolutely the wrong signal", contrary to the normalization of relations between Turkey and the EU, reads the statement of the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
Earlier, the Turkish court sentenced a journalist of the German newspaper Welt Denise Judges to two years and nine months in prison on charges of promoting terrorism. Prosecutors in Turkey demanded for Judges 4 years and 3 months to 15 years and 3 months imprisonment. Among other accusations, the journalist, - inciting hatred and enmity among the population.
German business believes that the statements of Secretary of state Mike Pompeo on sanctions against the pipeline "Nord stream — 2" the unprecedented intervention in the energy sovereignty of the European Union. This was stated by Oliver Hermes, the head of the Eastern Committee of German economy, which represents the interests of German companies and enterprises in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Hermes added that this unprecedented intervention will lead to a shortage of supply and, consequently, to excessive prices. According to him, investment in the project in the amount of 12 billion euros are under threat, and the refusal to supply in the "Nord stream — 2" all European gas consumers should expect additional annual cost of four billion euros.
USA neglect law and the sovereignty of Europe, threatening sanctions against the project "Nord stream 2", Germany considers it necessary to develop a common approach to sanctions policy against Russia, Washington's actions is complicated, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday that the state Department published recommendations in the framework of the law on counteraction to Russia through sanctions, including the document "Nord stream 2" and second thread "Turkish stream." These actions put at risk the us sanctions on investments and other actions associated with the Russian export gas pipelines.
The Minister for foreign Affairs of Iraq, Fuad Hussein asked his German colleague Heiko Maas to assist in the elimination of Iraq compiled from the EU list of countries with weak rules against money laundering and financing of terrorism, the statement said Iraqi foreign Ministry.
As noted in the statement, the foreign Ministers of Iraq and Germany held a telephone conversation, during which discussed a number of topics, including bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas on Saturday expressed regret that the UN Security Council has not been able to agree on the extension of the Rafah crossing on the border with Syria for delivery to the country of humanitarian aid from Turkey.
"We deeply regret that the Russian and Chinese veto yesterday, once again prevented the renewal of resolution for cross-border aid, the UN security Council. This is bitter news for millions of people in the North of Syria. Negotiations are continuing today. Encourage everyone not to interfere with the compromise," said Maas, whose words are reported in Twitter, the German foreign Minister.
Srebrenica must not be repeated, the statement said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
In July 1995, after Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the border with Serbia came under the control of Serb forces led by General Ratko Mladic were killed or went missing about 8 thousand 100 people from among the Muslims. These data are cited by the international Commission on missing persons (ICMP) and a number of other organizations, but some experts they are considered too high.
The head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas and German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said no to the invitation to participate in the meeting of the G7 on July 29 in Washington, according to the publication Spiegel, citing sources from the governmental circles of Germany and the United States.
According to Spiegel, the Meuse, and Scholz refused full-time Ministerial meeting of the G7 in Washington, but made it clear that Germany is ready to send Deputy Ministers. In addition, the newspaper writes, apparently, the authorities of other countries "sevens" also refused to meet at the Ministerial level.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said that the violators of the arms embargo against Libya are threatening targeted sanctions.
"While the whole world closed its borders and was placed in isolation, ships, planes and trucks loaded with weapons and mercenaries have continued to arrive in the Libyan city. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to stop this cynical nonsense," said Maas at a meeting of the UN security Council.
The Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed by telephone with foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas urgent task of humanitarian assistance to Syrians without preconditions, according to the Russian depodesta.
"They discussed topical issues of the middle East agenda with a focus on the situation in Syria and around it. Were considered pressing issues of humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in all areas of the country without politicization, discrimination and preconditions", - said in a statement on the foreign Ministry website.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said that there is an urgent need for action to improve relations between Berlin and Washington, which currently do not meet the requirements of the two countries.
"The transatlantic relationship is extremely important, they remain important, and we are also working to have a future. However, in the form in which they are now, they no longer meet the requirements that they present both sides," said Maas in an interview with dpa, noting that there is "an urgent need for action."
Berlin would decide on possible new measures against Russia for the murder of a citizen of Georgia in Germany in August 2019 with an eye to the court's decision, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"We reserve the right to take further action, especially with an eye on the solution, which in this case will be taken," said Maas after a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged to await the outcome of the trial in the murder of a citizen of Georgia in Berlin, before talking about further action in the case.
Earlier the state office of public Prosecutor of Germany has announced that it has sent to court the case of the Russian citizen, who is accused of murder of Georgian citizen in Berlin in August 2019. In this regard, the Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev was summoned to the German foreign Ministry, said on Thursday the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas. The Minister added that "the German government unconditionally reserves the right to further action in this case." The Ambassador in turn stated that the threat of new measures against Russia, if implemented, will not remain without reaction.
Statements of the German authorities about the involvement of Russian state structures to the murder in Berlin in August 2019 a Georgian citizen Zelimkhan khangoshvili is not supported by evidence, threats of new measures against Russia, if implemented, will not remain without reaction, said Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev.
Earlier Thursday, foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said that Nechayev summoned to the foreign Ministry of Germany in connection with the murder of a citizen of Georgia in Berlin. The Prosecutor General's office of Germany on the same day announced that it had submitted to the court case of a citizen of Russia, who is accused of murder. The Ambassador came to the foreign Ministry about 16.10 local time (17.10 GMT), his car drove straight into the territory of the Agency, the diplomat did not communicate with the press upon arrival. 40 minutes later he left the Ministry, but also did not speak waiting outside with the media of Russia and Germany.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas on Thursday expressed hope that negotiations of the Russian Federation and the United States on arms control, is scheduled for 22 June in Vienna, will be successful.
"For the last time we had a few setbacks on the part of disarmament treaties - the INF Treaty, the open skies Treaty. Therefore, the start - one of the remaining important pillars of the architecture of arms control. I would be happy if these negotiations will be successful and will lead to the preservation of what already exists in the architecture of arms control and maybe something else will be added," said Maas at the press conference following talks with Austrian counterpart in Vienna.
Germany during the EU presidency will support the EU membership of the Balkan countries, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas after meeting with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz on Tuesday in Warsaw.
"We agree that as the EU we need to continue the enlargement policy," said Maas.
Germany and Poland still have different positions regarding the construction of the gas pipeline "Nord stream 2" was announced at a press conference following the meeting, the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas with his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz on Tuesday in Warsaw.
Construction of the pipeline "Nord stream 2" is one of the stumbling blocks in relations between Germany and Poland. Warsaw is in contrast with Germany strongly opposed to the construction of the pipeline and welcomes any attempt to block it or hinder it.
The German foreign Ministry will send an invoice for tens of thousands of citizens, which the government had taken in March and April, Charter flights from other countries in connection with the spread of coronavirus infections, reports TourDom.ru citing local media.
According to the media, on a specially chartered Charter Ministry of foreign Affairs of Germany has taken 66 thousand people from nearly 250 thousand who have returned to the country for five weeks. It cost 100 million euros. Before the evacuation of every German has signed an agreement for the payment, as stipulated by German law on consular activities.
The confrontation between the United States and China complicates the global response to the pandemic of coronavirus, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"Pandemic COVID-19 is not only the hardest test for our generation. She is also the strongest challenge for our multilateral system, founded 75 years ago," said Maas on a video conference of the Forum of small countries.
Germany will lift border controls on flights to Spain from 21 June, with Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Denmark and Italy, the message will be recovered in full from the 15th of June, said the interior Minister of Germany, Horst Seehofer.
Earlier, foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas said that from June 15 the freedom of movement in the EU and the Schengen area will be fully restored. Previously it was interrupted by almost three months in the pandemic coronavirus in Europe.
The US withdrawal from the Treaty on open skies, and the actions of Iran have led to the rollback of the architecture of nuclear arms control, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas at the end of the videoconference with participants to the Stockholm initiative on nuclear disarmament.
"Unfortunately, the architecture of arms control in recent weeks there has been a subsequent, causing the bitterness of setbacks - the US withdrawal from the Treaty on open skies refers to them as causing concern around the development of Iran's nuclear program. To avoid a new nuclear arms race is a matter of survival for humanity," said Maas, it quoted the press service of the Ministry.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas has compared US President Donald trump with the populists all over the world who are trying to mobilize their supporters by polarizing society.
"In the United States, many journalists while covering protests were persecuted and attacked. Trump called journalists enemies of the people and the lowest form of life. This behavior is familiar to us from populists all over the world: they polarize society against certain groups and trying to mobilize their supporters. This is very dangerous," said Maas in an interview with Bild am Sonntag.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas in an interview with Bild am Sonntag called the relations of Berlin and Washington complex on the background of recent media information about the US decision to withdraw from the Germany part of the American military.
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal has informed citing a source that the President of the United States Donald trump ordered to withdraw by September of 9.5 thousand members of the military contingent of the USA from Germany. Trump also ordered to limit the number of simultaneously located in Germany us military to 25 thousand people is acceptable now 52 thousand. On Saturday, the weekly Spiegel reported that the President of the United States Donald trump is caught by surprise the German government without informing them about the decision to withdraw almost one-third stationed in Germany U.S. troops.
Italy is studying all the proposals of the partners at the invitation of the countries at the G7 summit, international forums are important for the discussion of pressing issues, said the head of the Italian Ministry of foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, commenting on the idea of U.S. President Donald trump to invite Russia to a meeting "the big seven".
"With regard to the proposal of the President of trump, I can say that we consider every invitation that promotes dialogue at the international level, especially those that come from our allies," said Di Maio at a press conference in Berlin after talks with German colleague Heiko Maas.
Berlin will continue peacekeeping efforts in Libya, without a political solution to the conflict the country faces an endless civil war, said foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"We must admit that the arms embargo is violated by both parties and this led to the fact that neither party received from this military advantage. But we can't say that has made some contribution to the solution of the conflict. It should be resolved by political means", - he said at a press conference in Berlin following talks with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio.
Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas expressed doubt about the need for "intermediate format" between the G7 and the G20 by bringing in seven third countries.
"In addition, (G7), there is the G20 format. Does it make sense to create such an intermediate format - I have my doubts about this," said Maas at a briefing in Berlin, answering the question about the possible expansion of the G7 at the expense of third countries.
The implementation of the decisions of the Paris meeting, "Norman Quartet" impetus should be given, said the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"We discussed in the "Normandy format" (30 April), and in the format of videoconference meetings, during which we were United that the implementation of the outcomes of the summit "channel format" (in Paris) requires a new impetus. We have discussed this today too", - he said at a press conference after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Coleby in Berlin.
China, Afghanistan and coronavirus will be the themes of informal negotiations of the Council of Ministers of foreign Affairs of the EU countries, said Friday before the online meeting, the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"We are strong in the EU, when we speak with one voice. This is especially important in our relations with China. Looking for a new safety law in Hong Kong, the EU took a clear position that the autonomy of Hong Kong should not be affected to the same extent. We expect that the freedoms and rights of citizens... will be saved," said Maas.
EU countries are United in the opinion that a high level of autonomy of Hong Kong should not be eroded, the new law on security should not question the rights and freedoms stated by the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas.
"We are United in the EU: a high level of autonomy of Hong Kong should not be eroded. Citizens enjoy rights and freedoms that protect the basic law and the fundamental principle of "one country, two systems". We expect that this will be respected," wrote Maas on Twitter.