Merkel on point?

MUCH has been made (for better or worse) of Nicolas Sarkozy´s diplomatic dealings with Moscow in recent days. With France holding the rotating European Union presidency at a time of particularly delicate relations with Russia, the French president has understandably been thrust to the fore. But some analysts argue that the more low-key Angela Merkel is the European leader who truly has the ear of leaders in Moscow these days. "Russia does listen to what Germany says," according to James Sherr, director of the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. "If Germany can make clear statements about the consequences facing Russia over Georgia and what else it might do, it will have an impact on Russia." Mrs Merkel is not the first German chancellor to have a reasonable dialogue with the... [read full story]