Opening ceremony of the Day of Europe is staged at Vasilievsky Spusk Square, Moscow.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Trust Level of EU and Russia at Lowest
The level of trust between the European Union and Russia fell to the lowest level over the last 16 years, according to E.U. Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.
”Relations between the E.U. and Russia are going through a difficult period… Indeed, they contain a level of misunderstanding or even mistrust we have not seen since the end of the Cold War,” Mandelson said in the speech to be delivered at a conference on Russia in Italian Bologna, Reuters reported.
The core reasons are mostly political, the official explained. The E.U. states have often presented claims to Russia following unexplained murders of dissidents and journalists and due to authorities’ crackdown on activists of anti-government rallies.
One of concerns of E.U. is that Russia may cut off oil and gas supplies to the world markets as means of political pressure.
“Russia needs to be in the WTO and we have a duty to assist this,” Mandelson said specifying frustration because of bilateral disagreement.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
