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/6668111.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Brussels warns Russia on EU unity EU-Russian talks end in acrimony
(about 3 hours 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. The leaders of the European Union and Russia have traded sharp criticism over human rights, at a summit that exposed the divisions between the two sides.
Speaking at an EU-Russian summit, Mr Barroso said the EU was based on principles of solidarity. German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed alarm at the detention of activists intending to protest against the Russian government.
The summit, near the city of Samara, was marred by Moscow's rows with countries including Estonia and Poland. Vladimir Putin retorted that Estonia's ethnic Russians were being persecuted.
Disputes between Moscow and Brussels have also arisen over the status of Kosovo, energy supplies and trade. Correspondents said the exchanges just illustrated the souring mood between the EU and its eastern neighbour.
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. There are a number of prickly issues between the two, including trade, energy supplies and Kosovo.
In a break with previous practice, no joint declaration was prepared before the summit at Volzhsky Utyos government resort, near the Russian city of Samara.
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 Send us your commentsThe 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 Send us your comments
Moscow police prevented former world chess champion Garry Kasparov and other opposition leaders from flying to attend a protest rally. If the atmosphere at the post-summit news conference was anything to go by, the relationship has reached a new low, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow.
Several foreign journalists were also reportedly prevented from travelling. President Putin turned the tables on the EU, accusing members Estonia and Latvia of violating the human rights of their Russian minority.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, condemned the treatment of ethnic Russians in the Baltic states. "We believe this is unacceptable and unworthy of Europe," he said.
In a break with previous practice, no joint declaration was prepared before the summit at Volzhsky Utyos government resort. It follows Estonia's removal last month of a World War II monument to Red Army soldiers, which led to riots and the death of one ethnic Russian.
Polish veto Opposition detained
"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. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Russia that any action taken against an individual EU state would be considered action against the whole bloc.
"It is very important if you want to have close co-operation to understand that the EU is based on principles of solidarity," he said.
Mrs Merkel, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, then stepped in, complaining that opposition activists had been prevented from travelling to the summit venue to take part in a protest.
"I'm concerned about some people having problems in travelling here," Mrs Merkel said.
"I hope they will be given an opportunity to express their opinion."
They (Estonian police) didn't just disperse demonstrators. They killed one demonstrator. We demand that the criminals be brought to account Vladimir PutinRussian PresidentThey (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. A number of leading anti-Putin activists, including the former chess champion Garry Kasparov, had passports confiscated and were detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
"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. The authorities said they had false travel documents.
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. Several foreign journalists were also reportedly prevented from travelling.
Poland has imposed a veto on any new strategic partnership accord between the EU and Russia. 'Sacred principles'
The veto - now also supported by Lithuania - follows Russia's decision last year to block meat imports from Poland over apparent food safety issues. Nevertheless, some protesters - estimated variously between 100 and 500 - gathered at a square in Samara and marched, chanting slogans like "Russia without Putin!"
"We believe there is no reason for a (Russian) ban on Polish meat imports," Mr Barroso told President Putin. "I don't agree with what's happening in Russia today. I want another Russia, a free one," said Natalya Sorochan, 27.
'Unacceptable violations' A perceived increase in Russian authoritarianism is one of the thorns in the side of EU-Russian relations, correspondents say.
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. Mr Barroso said the EU's "sacred principles" included "democracy, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of demonstration".
The event sparked unrest by mostly ethnic Russians in Estonia, that left one person dead and more than 160 injured. Another testing issue is Russia's ban on meat imports from Poland over apparent food safety issues.
At the summit, Mr Putin accused Estonia - and also Latvia - of "unacceptable " violations of the rights of Russian-speakers. Poland rejects the ban, and says it will veto any new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia, until it is lifted.
He also condemned what he described as heavy-handed methods of Estonian police during the riots. Also souring relations are the cutting of Russian oil supplies to Lithuania in a separate row, and the future of Kosovo.
"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.
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.