Litvinenko Case

"People in Russia know that the two murder cases and the resulting public discussion have caused huge damage to Russia's image in the West," Steinmeier said on Thursday in Moscow after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

It was in Russia's own interest to uncover "the whole affair and seize the perpetrators," said Steinmeier, who is Russia for two days of talks.

Steinmeier met with his counterpart Lavrov prior to a session with Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday afternoon. According to sources close to the minister, in that meeting Steinmeier merely extended Christmas wishes from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and invited Putin to am international security conference in Munich from Feb. 9 to 11.

Germany warned not to 'politicize' Litvinenko case

In his meeting with Lavrov, the foreign minister added that Russia was as an important partner for Germany but said this didn't mean Germany "excluded criticism on matters which are internal to the partner."

For his part, Lavrov urged countries involved in investigating the death of Litvinenko from polonium poisoning against "politicizing" the case and "not to nod in the direction of some country as the most vulnerable in this situation."

From his deathbed in a London hospital, Litvinenko had blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for being behind the poisoning.

On Thursday, Lavrov said the most important thing was that the investigation was now being handled by professionals.

Greater EU cooperation sought

Steinmeier expressed his satisfaction at the cooperation between British investigators and Russian authorities in the Litvinenko case over the past 10 days.

Just days before Germany was due to take over as European Union president at the beginning of January, the two politicians expressed a mutual interest in greater cooperation between Russia and the EU.

"Europe has an important and great neighbor in Russia," Steinmeier said.

Plans to revive Mideast Quartet

In order to find solutions to international crises, Europe and Russia had to continue to cooperate, he said.

Both Steinmeier and Lavrov agreed that the Mideast Quartet, which consists of Russia, the EU, United States, and the United Nations, should be reinvigorated. Steinmeier said the Mideast Quartet would hold a joint session as soon as January.

The minister said he regretted the fact that there was still no mandate for negotiations on a new cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia. The negotiations are currently being blocked by Poland, which is protesting a Russian embargo on its meat and grain products.

An "unblocking" had to be achieved immediately, Steinmeier said.