The new German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer -- in office for only two days -- has continued a series of international engagements with visits to London and Warsaw.

Mr Fischer and the British foreign secretary, Robin Cook, agreed that the European Union needed to develop a common strategy towards Russia as a matter of urgency.

They said the next foreign policy priority was Kosovo, where the agreement negotiated with President Milosevic had to be turned into reality on the ground.

Later in Warsaw, Mr Fischer assured his Polish hosts that Germany favoured the EU's eastward extension and pledged that Germany would deal with Poland's planned entry above all when it took over the EU presidency in January.