Merkel says wants to start talks on new EU-Russia partnership deal |
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Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:47
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STRASBOURG (AFX) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised to do everything possible to ensure that talks on a new EU-Russia partnership deal start in the first half of this year.'We intend to do everything we can so that negotiations for the new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement can begin under the German (EU) presidency,' which lasts until the end of June, she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.'We need a reliable partnership with Russia,' she added.Such an agreement is 'of strategic importance' for Europe, she said.However she said Europe could not ignore current issues regarding Russia, including the treatment of its media and social problems as well as conflicts with its neighbours.The relationship with Russia is also key because of its major role as a provider of the continent's energy needs, she added.The future agreement would include an energy section because of European fears over its dependence on Russian oil and gas and the reliability of the supplies.Poland has since last November blocked the opening of talks on a new EU-Russia agreement in retaliation for a Moscow ban on Polish meat imports, an embargo which Warsaw claims is politically motivated.Warsaw has used its veto power in the 27-nation bloc to stop the EU negotiating a new partnership agreement with Russia, which would frame relations between Brussels and Moscow for several years.The European Commission, in a bid to break the impasse, organised talks in Berlin today with Polish and Russian authorities.Merkel will visit Moscow on Sunday and will be hoping to persuade President Vladimir Putin to help unblock the negotiations.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/wjCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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EU welcomes Russian resumption of oil deliveries to Europe 