Paris and Berlin bid to woo Moscow

SECURITY is at the top of the agenda as the leaders of France, Germany and Russia meet in Deauville today for talks that President Sarkozy hopes will lead to closer ties.

The two-day meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev comes in advance of the G20 and Nato summits next month and will look at increased cooperation on security and the economy.

However, the Normandy resort itself is under a tight security blanket, with the tourist hotspots of the casino, designer shops, beaches and the Hôtel Royal closed off during the negotiations in the Cercle villa.

The French and German leaders want to pull Russia towards the EU and calm its fears over Nato’s plans for a European missile shield.

No major decisions are expected at the meeting to avoid problems with EU partners.

Photo: Patrice Le Bris / OT Deauville