This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7874110.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Top EU delegation in Moscow talks EU spars with Russia over rights
(29 minutes later)
Russia and the EU are holding their first high-level talks since relations were strained over the interruptions to Russian gas supplies last month. Russia has reacted frostily to EU concern about human rights violations, at their first high-level talks since a gas row soured relations last month.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is leading a team of nine commissioners in the discussions. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the killings of a human rights lawyer and a journalist in Moscow recently caused the EU concern.
Going into the talks in Moscow, Mr Barroso spoke of the need for "positive interdependence" in EU-Russia ties. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then angrily accused the EU of human rights abuses within its own territory.
Russia's plan to build military bases in two breakaway regions of Georgia is also expected to be high on the agenda. He said "the full range of problems" concerning rights had to be discussed.
The murder of prominent Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and newspaper reporter Anastasiya Baburova in broad daylight in Moscow last month drew international condemnation.
The recent gas crisis has shown that things are not all right here Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Russia's plan to build military bases in two breakaway regions of Georgia was also expected to raise tensions during the discussions.
On Thursday, the Czech Republic, holder of the EU presidency, said it was "seriously concerned" by the moves in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, over which Russia and Georgia went to war last August.On Thursday, the Czech Republic, holder of the EU presidency, said it was "seriously concerned" by the moves in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, over which Russia and Georgia went to war last August.
"The EU would consider the implementation of such plans to be a serious violation of the principle of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said."The EU would consider the implementation of such plans to be a serious violation of the principle of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.
'Many issues' Energy security
At the start of the talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Mr Barroso told reporters that negotiations on a new framework agreement were under way and that the EU was "very interested in developing these negotiations in a positive and constructive way". At the start of the talks in Moscow with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Mr Barroso told reporters that negotiations on a new EU-Russia framework agreement were under way.The EU does not have a lasting guarantee of Russian gas supplies
The recent gas crisis has shown that things are not all right here Russian President Dmitry Medvedev He said the nine commissioners accompanying him on the visit represented "the many issues we need to discuss so that we can deepen our relationship".
He said the nine commissioners represented "the many issues we need to discuss so that we can deepen our relationship". Mr Barroso said the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which left several EU states short of gas after Russia halted supplies, was one of the issues and reiterated his disappointment at the incident.
Mr Barroso said the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute was one of the issues and reiterated his disappointment at the incident. "It is important now to create conditions for this kind of crisis not to happen again. We believe energy security is a very important sphere of interest for Russia and the European Union," he said.
"It is important now to create conditions for this kind of crisis not to happen again. We believe energy security is a very important sphere of interest for Russia and the European Union."
"And this positive interdependence is more important now than ever because we are facing a very serious global financial crisis," he said."And this positive interdependence is more important now than ever because we are facing a very serious global financial crisis," he said.
Mr Medvedev said there needed to be a "fully-fledged international legal system" to prevent a recurrence.Mr Medvedev said there needed to be a "fully-fledged international legal system" to prevent a recurrence.
"The recent gas crisis has shown things are not all right," he said."The recent gas crisis has shown things are not all right," he said.
'Test' Test of relationship
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says the gas row has shaken EU countries' faith in both Russia and Ukraine as energy partners.The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says the gas row has shaken EU countries' faith in both Russia and Ukraine as energy partners.
A commission spokesman told the BBC that the meetings with Mr Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and members of his cabinet were a test - to see if the political relationship can move forward.A commission spokesman told the BBC that the meetings with Mr Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and members of his cabinet were a test - to see if the political relationship can move forward.
The EU does not have a lasting guarantee of Russian gas supplies
He stressed that reliability and predictability were key for a proper partnership.He stressed that reliability and predictability were key for a proper partnership.
Last month, Mr Barroso told the European Parliament that the dispute between Ukraine and Russia over gas prices was "most unacceptable and incredible".Last month, Mr Barroso told the European Parliament that the dispute between Ukraine and Russia over gas prices was "most unacceptable and incredible".
Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine on New Year's Day, saying it would pump only enough for customers further down the pipeline. But then Moscow accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas intended for third countries.Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine on New Year's Day, saying it would pump only enough for customers further down the pipeline. But then Moscow accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas intended for third countries.
Ukraine denied the claim, but the flow of Russian gas ceased completely on 7 January, leaving many European countries with major shortages. Ukraine denied the claim, but the flow of Russian gas ceased completely on 7 January.
Hundreds of thousands of people went without heating in Eastern and South-Eastern. Bulgaria, one of the hardest hit countries and a historical ally of Russia, had to close schools and public buildings.Hundreds of thousands of people went without heating in Eastern and South-Eastern. Bulgaria, one of the hardest hit countries and a historical ally of Russia, had to close schools and public buildings.
Gas flows were resumed on 12 January after Russia and Ukraine finally agreed prices at which Ukraine would buy gas, and ship it to Europe. Gas flows were resumed on 12 January after Russia and Ukraine finally agreed prices at which Ukraine would buy gas, and ship it to Europe. The EU sent monitors to the Russia-Ukraine border to check the flow of gas.