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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russians and EU to seek new pact | Russians and EU to seek new pact |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and top EU officials have announced the start of talks on a new strategic partnership agreement. | Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev and top EU officials have announced the start of talks on a new strategic partnership agreement. |
| The start of negotiations has been long delayed, amid strained ties under Mr Medvedev's predecessor, Vladimir Putin. But, at a meeting with EU officials in the Siberian city of Khanty-Mansiysk, Mr Medvedev said he was looking for a "new impulse" to relations with the EU. The talks will formally begin on 4 July in Brussels, he said. | |
| They will primarily focus on trade - Russia is the EU's third biggest trading partner and half of all Russian exports go to the EU. | They will primarily focus on trade - Russia is the EU's third biggest trading partner and half of all Russian exports go to the EU. |
| Objections lifted | Objections lifted |
| A relaxed Mr Medvedev hailed the "sincere, neighbourly" mood at the summit, and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he "really enjoyed this... very open, relaxed, constructive atmosphere". | A relaxed Mr Medvedev hailed the "sincere, neighbourly" mood at the summit, and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he "really enjoyed this... very open, relaxed, constructive atmosphere". |
| Mr Putin stayed away from the summit. But despite much talk of co-operation and mutual interest, old problems reared their heads, says the BBC's James Rodgers. | Mr Putin stayed away from the summit. But despite much talk of co-operation and mutual interest, old problems reared their heads, says the BBC's James Rodgers. |
| President Medvedev said Russia was alarmed by what he called a tendency to use European solidarity to promote the interests of individual members in bilateral disputes with Russia. | President Medvedev said Russia was alarmed by what he called a tendency to use European solidarity to promote the interests of individual members in bilateral disputes with Russia. |
| He also harshly criticised US plans to site missile defence facilities in Europe, and warned the EU against relying on others to ensure security in Europe. | |
| Indeed, Russia proposed a new treaty covering security across the European continent - a suggestion it said was warmly welcomed. | Indeed, Russia proposed a new treaty covering security across the European continent - a suggestion it said was warmly welcomed. |
| Objections dropped | Objections dropped |
| The new agreement is meant to replace the previous 10-year deal, which expired in 2007, but will continue to govern relations until the new text comes into force. | The new agreement is meant to replace the previous 10-year deal, which expired in 2007, but will continue to govern relations until the new text comes into force. |
| Talks had been stalled since late 2006, when Warsaw objected to a Russian ban on meat imports from Poland. | Talks had been stalled since late 2006, when Warsaw objected to a Russian ban on meat imports from Poland. |
| Fuel woes overshadow talks | Fuel woes overshadow talks |
| After that Lithuania held up progress, saying it wanted discussions on Russia's support for separatists in Georgia and Moldova. | After that Lithuania held up progress, saying it wanted discussions on Russia's support for separatists in Georgia and Moldova. |
| It dropped its objections in May, allowing talks to go ahead. | It dropped its objections in May, allowing talks to go ahead. |
| Energy supplies were a key issue at the summit, with the EU getting about a quarter of its natural gas from Russia. | Energy supplies were a key issue at the summit, with the EU getting about a quarter of its natural gas from Russia. |
| The host city is at the heart of Russia's oil boom and more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Brussels. | The host city is at the heart of Russia's oil boom and more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Brussels. |
| The European Commission says it wants the new partnership agreement to establish "a level playing field for energy relations". | The European Commission says it wants the new partnership agreement to establish "a level playing field for energy relations". |
| New cloud | New cloud |
| Russia's previous gas rows with its former Soviet neighbours - especially Ukraine - have made Europe nervous, our correspondent says. | Russia's previous gas rows with its former Soviet neighbours - especially Ukraine - have made Europe nervous, our correspondent says. |
| Among the other subjects covered by the summit were financial market stability, the rise of sovereign wealth funds, climate change and the current food crisis. | Among the other subjects covered by the summit were financial market stability, the rise of sovereign wealth funds, climate change and the current food crisis. |
| There was a potential new stumbling block raised on the eve of the summit, when Finland - a major Russian trading partner - announced it was considering retaliation for Russian moves to increase export duties on raw timber. | There was a potential new stumbling block raised on the eve of the summit, when Finland - a major Russian trading partner - announced it was considering retaliation for Russian moves to increase export duties on raw timber. |
| The country said Russia's measures - which it says are designed to bolster the country's paper-processing industry - would cost up to 16,000 jobs in Finland. | The country said Russia's measures - which it says are designed to bolster the country's paper-processing industry - would cost up to 16,000 jobs in Finland. |