Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and EuroCommission President Jose Barroso push German Chancellor Angela Merkel towards decisive steps as the EU chairing state.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Summit of Objectors
// Russia and the EU measured human rights with each other
Just as expected, the EU-Russia summit that passed near Samara on Friday ended without results. Instead of discussing a new partnership and cooperation agreement, the parties were accusing each other of violating human rights, and searching for a definition of pure democracy. All that might seriously complicate Russia’s entry into the WTO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and EuroCommission President Jose Barroso met in the Volzhsky Utes residence on May 17-18th. They did not discuss the new agreement on partnership and cooperation, since it is blocked by Poland.
The three leaders gave a press conference, with the conversation going around the rallies of protest in Samara and Hamburg, the ban on Poland’s meat import to Russia, the neo-fascism in European countries, and the human rights.
Meanwhile, chief Russian negotiator for Russia’s accession to the WTO, head of Trade Negotiations Department at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Maxim Medvedkov, showed up at the summit. It might be a sign that the EU might be going to revoke its signature off the signed protocol on Russia’s entry into the WTO, which was indirectly confirmed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 19, 2007
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