Vladimir Putin

French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder came at Putin's invitation to mark the 750th anniversary of Kaliningrad, a Baltic port city that is cut off from the rest of Russia by EU members Poland and Lithuania.

Kaliningrad was founded in 1255 by the Teutonic Order of Knights and called Koenigsberg until Soviet troops took it over in 1945. The festivities, which were attended by the leaders of all of Russia's 89 regions, were meant to reassert Russia's commitment to this region, which has been separated geographically from the rest of Russia since the Soviet collapse.

"In its heart, (this city) will always be called Koenigsberg, although this absolutely does not involve any territorial claims," Schroeder said.

Putin did not invite the leaders of Poland and Lithuania, sparking criticism that he was paying too little attention to Russia's closest neighbors to the west.

The leaders discussed Kaliningrad's special status, which has become a thorn in EU-Russia relations since the EU's expansion last year. Moscow has sought special rules for passenger and cargo transit across Lithuania to bridge the gap between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 9, 2005
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