Russian President Vladimir Putin swith Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Sardinia, April 17, 2008
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Russia Doesn’t Want into EU
Russian representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov stated today that Russia does not want to become a member of the European Union, but wants to develop a partnership with it. He was speaking in at a Moscow-Brussels teleconference in response to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s suggestion that Russia would join that organization in the coming years.
Chizhov said that Russia is a politically and economically self-sufficient state. But he emphasized Moscow’s intentions of developing strategic relations with the EU.
Relations between Moscow and the EU are not at a high point now. Last month, the two sides were unable to renew negotiations over a new agreement on partnership and cooperation to replace the agreement that expired at the end of 2007. The EU declined to negotiate in response to Russia’s use of force in Georgia. Nonetheless, both sides have expressed willingness to continue consultations on a new agreement in the future.
www.kommersant.com
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