President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso (L) shakes hands with Lithuania's President Valdas Adamkus in Vilnius March 29, 2007.
Photo: Reuters
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EC Decided to Set to Negotiating New Agreement with Russia
The EU leaders will launch negotiations on a new EU partnership accord with Russia, said sources with diplomatic community. The respective decision was taken Tuesday when the foreign ministers of 27 nations of the EU met in Brussels.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russia’s envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told RIA Novosti that the EU Council may provide the respective mandate to the European Commission already in May.
It was Lithuania that blocked the start of negotiations on the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of the EU and Russia. Vilnius demanded to spell out in the EU negotiating mandate the resumption of supplies via Druzhba pipeline, damage payments to the people deported from the Baltic states, settlement of conflicts in Moldova and Georgia.
But the EU foreign ministers ultimately reached a deal with Lithuania to lift its veto on the negotiations launch, and it looks like the process has gained momentum at last. The previous cooperation agreement of the EU and Russia expired in December 2007.
www.kommersant.com
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