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Putin confident on EU energy pact Putin firm on EU energy charter
(about 1 hour later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is confident Europe and Russia will be able to find a common approach on trade and investment in oil and gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has resisted calls from EU leaders to agree to binding rules on energy relations at a summit in Finland.
He was speaking after EU leaders pressed him to agree to binding rules on energy relations, over dinner at a summit in southern Finland. Mr Putin said he was confident Europe and Russia would find a common approach on trade and investment in oil and gas.
Mr Putin also told reporters at the EU summit in Finland that there was a risk of bloodshed in Georgia. But he said a charter opening up Russia's energy sector to more foreign investment needed further work.
He accused Georgian leaders of building up forces near two breakaway regions. Mr Putin also hit out at Georgian leaders, accusing them of building up forces near two breakaway regions.
Russia supplies a quarter of the oil and gas consumed in the EU, and the proportion is set to rise sharply in coming decades.Russia supplies a quarter of the oil and gas consumed in the EU, and the proportion is set to rise sharply in coming decades.
I am quite confident that we will be in a position to develop common approaches Vladimir PutinI am quite confident that we will be in a position to develop common approaches Vladimir Putin
EU leaders have long been trying to persuade Russia to sign up to the 1991 Energy Charter Treaty, without success.EU leaders have long been trying to persuade Russia to sign up to the 1991 Energy Charter Treaty, without success.
But Mr Putin suggested that Russia could agree to most of the charter's principles when negotiations begin in the next few weeks on a new strategic partnership with the EU. But Mr Putin suggested that Russia could agree to most of the charter's principles when negotiations began in the next few weeks on a new strategic partnership with the EU.
"We are not against the principles that are included in the charter, but we believe that that certain provisions of the charter should be defined better," he said."We are not against the principles that are included in the charter, but we believe that that certain provisions of the charter should be defined better," he said.
"I am quite confident that we will be in a position to develop common approaches.""I am quite confident that we will be in a position to develop common approaches."
Mr Putin echoed European leaders by saying that energy co-operation needed to be rooted in the principles of predictability of energy markets and the mutual interdependence of suppliers and consumers.Mr Putin echoed European leaders by saying that energy co-operation needed to be rooted in the principles of predictability of energy markets and the mutual interdependence of suppliers and consumers.
'Reciprocity''Reciprocity'
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Lahti says Mr Putin was on a charm offensive, but there was no sign of progress on any of the really difficult issues.The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Lahti says Mr Putin was on a charm offensive, but there was no sign of progress on any of the really difficult issues.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the two sides needed to develop mutual trust.European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the two sides needed to develop mutual trust.
"That requires transparency, the rule of law, reciprocity, non-discrimination, market opening and market access," he said."That requires transparency, the rule of law, reciprocity, non-discrimination, market opening and market access," he said.
Europe diary: The gas man Origin of Europe's gas Blair urges climate actionEurope diary: The gas man Origin of Europe's gas Blair urges climate action
The EU wants European investors to have the same access to the Russian energy market as Russian companies have to Europe's market, and the ability to use Russian pipelines to export any gas and oil they produce in Russia.The EU wants European investors to have the same access to the Russian energy market as Russian companies have to Europe's market, and the ability to use Russian pipelines to export any gas and oil they produce in Russia.
European governments have recently raised concerns about the treatment of some European energy investors attempting to develop oil and gas resources in Russia.European governments have recently raised concerns about the treatment of some European energy investors attempting to develop oil and gas resources in Russia.
Energy security became a major priority for the EU after Russia briefly cut off gas to Ukraine in January, in a dispute over payment.Energy security became a major priority for the EU after Russia briefly cut off gas to Ukraine in January, in a dispute over payment.
A paper prepared for the summit by the European Commission stressed the importance of increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.A paper prepared for the summit by the European Commission stressed the importance of increasing energy imports from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East and Gulf regions.
'Bloodshed''Bloodshed'
The EU leaders said before the summit that they would make clear their hopes that Russia would be able to find the killer of the murdered journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.The EU leaders said before the summit that they would make clear their hopes that Russia would be able to find the killer of the murdered journalist, Anna Politkovskaya.
On Georgia, Mr Putin said that Russia had not started the latest round of tensions between the two countries.On Georgia, Mr Putin said that Russia had not started the latest round of tensions between the two countries.
"The issue does not lie between Russia and Georgia, the issue is between Georgia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia," he said, referring to Georgia's two Russian-backed breakaway territories."The issue does not lie between Russia and Georgia, the issue is between Georgia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia," he said, referring to Georgia's two Russian-backed breakaway territories.
He accused Georgian leaders of seeking to take control of the regions by military force, and said a Georgian military build-up was the cause of the latest trouble.He accused Georgian leaders of seeking to take control of the regions by military force, and said a Georgian military build-up was the cause of the latest trouble.
The Georgian government reacted angrily to Mr Putin's comments, calling an immediate press conference.The Georgian government reacted angrily to Mr Putin's comments, calling an immediate press conference.
Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told journalists in Tbilisi that Georgia had no plans to use force against its citizens.Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told journalists in Tbilisi that Georgia had no plans to use force against its citizens.
"This is pure fiction and the Russian president knows this but chooses to presume that the international community is ignorant," he said. "This is pure fiction and the Russian president knows this, but chooses to presume that the international community is ignorant," he said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told journalists he had been talking to Russia and Georgia "practically daily", trying to cool down the situation and persuade their leaders to talk to each other, without success.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told journalists he had been talking to Russia and Georgia "practically daily", trying to cool down the situation and persuade their leaders to talk to each other, without success.