| Summary/Abstract |
AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT in 1955 of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and what was then West Germany, Russia and Germany have accumulated an impressive reserve of confidence and traversed a difficult historic path of conciliation between them. Despite turbulent times, Moscow and Berlin for a long time gravitated towards each other and valued this. Relations between the two countries' leaderships were developing rapidly on the basis of bilateral documents and there were strengthening ties in economy, trade, energy, education, science, arts, and environmental protection. There were increasingly frequent youth exchanges and there were indications that the civil societies of Russia and Germany were drawing closer together in practical terms. Russian and German politicians, public figures, and civil society activists constantly stressed the unique character of Russian-German partnership, which became an important factor of peace and stability in Europe. Diversified cooperation between the two countries became a vivid example of good-neighborly relations between two European nations
|