Berlin Prods Kiev Over Free Media

31 August 2010

The Associated Press

Gero Breloer / AP

Angela Merkel, second left, welcoming Viktor Yanukovych, third left, with military honors in Berlin on Monday.

BERLIN — Germany's chancellor urged Ukraine's president on Monday to strengthen media freedoms in his country, while stressing the potential for further cooperation between the two nations on energy issues.
Germany sees unanswered questions regarding some democratic processes in Ukraine, "in particular in the area of press freedom and the freedom of expression," Chancellor Angela Merkel told visiting President Viktor Yanukovych.
Merkel said both sides agreed to openly and frankly discuss those issues in the future, if critical questions arise.