German chancellor meeting Putin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is traveling to Moscow on
Friday, where she is scheduled to meet with Russian President
Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, Radio Liberty reported.
Putin's press secretary Dmitri Peskov said on the eve of Merkel's
visit that the Russian president would raise the issue of European
legislation "that adversely affects our interests."
Peskov elaborated that meant talks on the European Union's "Third
Energy Package," which enforces "unbundling."
Russia's gas giant Gazprom objects to the "unbundling" requirement
as it requires a separation of the production, transport, and sale
of energy supplies.
Gazprom produces and sells gas and owns its own transportation
facilities. It currently provide some 25 percent of the EU's gas
needs.
Merkel and Putin are also expected to discuss Syria, the current
crisis between Israel and Gaza, and Iran's nuclear program.