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| Brussels warns Russia on EU unity | Brussels warns Russia on EU unity |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has told Russia that any problems it has with an individual EU state are problems with the whole bloc. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has told Russia that any problems it has with an individual EU state are problems with the whole bloc. |
| Speaking at an EU-Russian summit, Mr Barroso said the EU was based on principles of solidarity. | Speaking at an EU-Russian summit, Mr Barroso said the EU was based on principles of solidarity. |
| The summit, near the city of Samara, was marred by Moscow's rows with countries including Estonia and Poland. | The summit, near the city of Samara, was marred by Moscow's rows with countries including Estonia and Poland. |
| Disputes between Moscow and Brussels have also arisen over the status of Kosovo, energy supplies and trade. | Disputes between Moscow and Brussels have also arisen over the status of Kosovo, energy supplies and trade. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, expressed concern at the difficulties Russian opposition activists were reporting in getting to the summit venue. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, expressed concern at the difficulties Russian opposition activists were reporting in getting to the summit venue. |
| The Polish problem is a European problem. The Lithuanian and Estonian problems are also EU problems Jose Manuel BarrosoEuropean Commission chief Sticky issues for summit Summit's Volga River venue class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6382&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| Moscow police prevented former world chess champion Garry Kasparov and other opposition leaders from flying to attend a protest rally. | Moscow police prevented former world chess champion Garry Kasparov and other opposition leaders from flying to attend a protest rally. |
| Several foreign journalists were also reportedly prevented from travelling. | Several foreign journalists were also reportedly prevented from travelling. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, condemned the treatment of ethnic Russians in the Baltic states. | Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, condemned the treatment of ethnic Russians in the Baltic states. |
| In a break with previous practice, no joint declaration was prepared before the summit at Volzhsky Utyos government resort. | In a break with previous practice, no joint declaration was prepared before the summit at Volzhsky Utyos government resort. |
| Polish veto | Polish veto |
| "We had an occasion to say to our Russian partners that a difficulty for a member state is a difficulty for the whole European community," Mr Barroso said at the news conference. | "We had an occasion to say to our Russian partners that a difficulty for a member state is a difficulty for the whole European community," Mr Barroso said at the news conference. |
| They (Estonian police) didn't just disperse demonstrators. They killed one demonstrator. We demand that the criminals be brought to account Vladimir PutinRussian President | They (Estonian police) didn't just disperse demonstrators. They killed one demonstrator. We demand that the criminals be brought to account Vladimir PutinRussian President |
| "The Polish problem is a European problem. The Lithuanian and Estonian problems are also EU problems. | "The Polish problem is a European problem. The Lithuanian and Estonian problems are also EU problems. |
| "It is very important if you want to have close co-operation to understand that the EU is based on principles of solidarity," Mr Barroso said. | "It is very important if you want to have close co-operation to understand that the EU is based on principles of solidarity," Mr Barroso said. |
| He was referring a Russian trade dispute with Poland, the cutting of Russian oil supplies to Lithuania in a separate row, and a bitter dispute over the treatment of ethnic Russians in Estonia. | He was referring a Russian trade dispute with Poland, the cutting of Russian oil supplies to Lithuania in a separate row, and a bitter dispute over the treatment of ethnic Russians in Estonia. |
| Poland has imposed a veto on any new strategic partnership accord between the EU and Russia. | Poland has imposed a veto on any new strategic partnership accord between the EU and Russia. |
| The veto - now also supported by Lithuania - follows Russia's decision last year to block meat imports from Poland over apparent food safety issues. | The veto - now also supported by Lithuania - follows Russia's decision last year to block meat imports from Poland over apparent food safety issues. |
| "We believe there is no reason for a (Russian) ban on Polish meat imports," Mr Barroso told President Putin. | "We believe there is no reason for a (Russian) ban on Polish meat imports," Mr Barroso told President Putin. |
| 'Unacceptable violations' | 'Unacceptable violations' |
| Another major factor in the deterioration of relations has been Estonia's removal last month of a World War II monument to Red Army soldiers in central Tallinn. | Another major factor in the deterioration of relations has been Estonia's removal last month of a World War II monument to Red Army soldiers in central Tallinn. |
| The event sparked unrest by mostly ethnic Russians in Estonia, that left one person dead and more than 160 injured. | The event sparked unrest by mostly ethnic Russians in Estonia, that left one person dead and more than 160 injured. |
| At the summit, Mr Putin accused Estonia - and also Latvia - of "unacceptable " violations of the rights of Russian-speakers. | At the summit, Mr Putin accused Estonia - and also Latvia - of "unacceptable " violations of the rights of Russian-speakers. |
| He also condemned what he described as heavy-handed methods of Estonian police during the riots. | He also condemned what he described as heavy-handed methods of Estonian police during the riots. |
| "They didn't just disperse demonstrators. They killed one demonstrator. We demand that the criminals be brought to account," Mr Putin said. | "They didn't just disperse demonstrators. They killed one demonstrator. We demand that the criminals be brought to account," Mr Putin said. |
| The Kosovo issue also dominated the summit's agenda. | The Kosovo issue also dominated the summit's agenda. |
| EU leaders have recently expressed alarm about Russian threats to veto a UN Security Council resolution proposing Kosovo's de facto independence from Serbia. | EU leaders have recently expressed alarm about Russian threats to veto a UN Security Council resolution proposing Kosovo's de facto independence from Serbia. |