Westerwelle in Moscow

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is rounding off his inaugural visit to Moscow on Friday where he held separate meetings with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Germany wants to improve relations with Russia across the board, according to Westerwelle.

"Without ifs, ands or buts: we want a strategic partnership with Russia," Westerwelle said at his meeting with Lavrov.

"We want more than just a trade and economic relationship," he said. "From justice to culture we want to work together and build a deeper friendship between our two peoples."

Westerwelle had earlier attended the inauguration ceremony of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

After the meeting with Lavrov, Westerwelle met with Medvedev to discuss matters such as nuclear disarmament, the situation with Iran and the war in Afghanistan.

While in Moscow, Westerwelle also reacted to the appointments of Herman Van Rompuy to EU president and Catherine Ashton as EU foreign minister or high representative for foreign and security policy.

"These are two foreign policy experts," Westerwelle said. "But there are no politicians with experience within this new EU structure, so Van Rompuy and Ashton have their work cut out for them."

In facing these challenges, Westerwelle said, "they can count on our support."

Following the two high-level meetings, Westerwelle also spoke with Russian human rights activists, who he praised for their critical stance towards the Kremlin.

"We want to encourage them and support them," Westerwelle said. Among those he met was Lyudmila Alexeyeva, 82, the head of the Helsinki Group of human rights activists.

Alexeyeva told Westerwelle it was important that Germany take note of the problems in Russia.

Alexeyeva was recently awarded Germany's top civilian award by President Horst Koehler for her work promoting democratic values in Russia.

dfm/sjt/dpa//AFP/Reuters
Editor: Andreas Illmer