RUSSIA: The leaders of France and Germany told Russian president Vladimir Putin in this Baltic Sea outpost yesterday that EU enlargement was an issue for the union to decide, not Russia.
"The problems . . . of the constitution and enlargement, this is a problem for EU members," German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said at a joint news briefing with Mr Putin and France's president Jacques Chirac.
Moscow is worried that if the EU continues its eastward expansion, countries like Ukraine and Georgia - which are pulling out of Moscow's orbit - could join the bloc next.
Kaliningrad, the birthplace of philosopher Immanuel Kant, was this week celebrating 750 years since it was founded by Teutonic knights. It was signed over to Moscow in the Potsdam accords at the end of the second World War.
The region's convoluted history raised a laugh at the news briefing when Mr Schröder said for Germans the city will always be Königsberg. But he corrected himself, saying: "Of course, I don't mean any territorial claims." But that was in marked contrast to the chill between Moscow and the newer, eastern members of the EU.
Poland and Lithuania are Kaliningrad's major trading partners and provide the only surface transport links. Both countries expressed displeasure at not being invited, but Mr Putin said yesterday the three-way format for the talks did not allow for any other guests.
