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EU spars with Russia over rights EU spars with Russia over rights
(about 1 hour later)
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. Russia and the EU have traded accusations over human rights abuses, at their first high-level talks since a gas row soured relations last month.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the killings of a human rights lawyer and a journalist in Moscow recently caused the EU concern.European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the killings of a human rights lawyer and a journalist in Moscow recently caused the EU concern.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then angrily accused the EU of human rights abuses within its own territory.Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then angrily accused the EU of human rights abuses within its own territory.
He said "the full range of problems" concerning rights had to be discussed.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 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 We need to discuss the full range of problems - both in Russia and in Europe - in order to be able to solve them Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7839858.stm">Murder of lawyer shocks Russians
Russia's plan to build military bases in two breakaway regions of Georgia was also expected to raise tensions during the discussions. Russia's plan to build military bases in two breakaway regions of Georgia also raised tensions during the discussions, correspondents say.
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.
Bitter exchange
Speaking just before the visit by Mr Barroso, an EC spokesman told the BBC that the talks would be a test of whether the political relationship could now improve despite the continuing fall-out from last month's gas crisis and the war between Russia and Georgia.
He stressed that in a mature relationship it should be possible to discuss areas of all of disagreement, including the rule of law and human rights.
And that is exactly what Mr Barroso did during his talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says.
Last month's murders fuelled fears about freedom of speech in Russia
But when Mr Barroso went on to disclose this at a news conference following his next meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, he got an earful, our correspondent adds.
Mr Barroso had said the European Union was concerned about the murder of journalists and human rights activists in Russia.
Visibly angry, Mr Putin accused him of hypocrisy, saying immigrants' and prisoners' rights in Europe were being trampled on, as were the rights of Russian minority populations in the Baltic states.
"We need to discuss the full range of problems - both in Russia and in Europe - in order to be able to solve them," he added.
Mr Barroso shot back by saying that in Europe, criticism was accepted.
And he stressed that the Baltic states - which are EU members - are democracies that respect the rule of law.
Our correspondent says it was a bitter exchange, and the visit seems to have highlighted tensions rather than built bridges.
Energy securityEnergy security
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 Before his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier on Friday, Mr Barroso had said negotiations on a new EU-Russia framework agreement were under way.
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 accompanying him on the visit 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. The EU does not have a lasting guarantee of Russian gas supplies
Mr Barroso said the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which caused severe gas shortages in several EU states after Russia halted supplies, 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," he said.
"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. Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine on New Year's Day, saying it would pump only enough for customers further down the pipeline. But it then accused Kiev of siphoning off gas intended for third countries.
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.
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.
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".
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.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 20 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. Gas flows were resumed on 20 January after Russia and Ukraine finally agreed prices at which Ukraine would buy gas, and ship it to Europe. The EU sent monitors to their borders to check the flow of gas.