Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to previous German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, saying he did not suggest to frighten her when he brought his pet Labrador to a conference with her in 2007.
Merkel, who has a well-documented worry of dogs, remembered the tense encounter in her memoir launched Tuesday, implicating Putin of welcoming the animal as a presentation of power and taking glee in her pain.
I did not understand that she hesitated of canines, the Kremlin chief stated Thursday at a press conference in the Kazakh capital Astana.
I once again interest her by means of the media and state: Angela, please forgive me, I did not want to cause you any distress.
On the contrary, I wished to produce a beneficial environment for our conversation, he added.
If you ever I understand it is unlikely returned, I will not do it under any scenarios, Putin said.Images from their 2007 conference in the Russian city of Sochi showed Putins black Labrador Retriever Konni smelling around while the German leader sat in her chair, smiling nervously.Merkel stated of the 2007 encounter in her narrative: I might tell from Putins facial expressions that he was delighting in the scenario.
Putin is understood to be fond of pet dogs and has actually received them from going to dignitaries on multiple occasions.He received Konni as a gift from Sergei Shoigu, who later on became his defense minister.