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EU Riga summit 'not against Russia', Merkel says EU says Riga summit 'not anti-Russia beauty contest'
(about 1 hour later)
EU leaders are gathering for a summit with six former Soviet states in Latvia, overshadowed by Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. An EU summit with six former Soviet states has opened in Latvia with an EU leader saying it is not a "beauty contest" to distance them from Russia.
The EU's Eastern Partnership "is not an instrument for pursuing an expansionist EU policy", German Chancellor Angela Merkel said ahead of the summit. European Council President Donald Tusk accused Russia of "aggressive and bullying tactics" towards its ex-Soviet neighbours. Ukraine and Georgia are among the EU's eastern partners.
The partnership "is not directed against anyone, it's not against Russia", she said. But Mr Tusk said the partnership was a "long haul", not aimed against Russia.
But Russia cannot yet rejoin the G7 group of leading nations, she added. It is overshadowed by Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
"So long as Russia does not comply with basic common values, a return to the G8 format is not imaginable for us." The G7 - grouping top industrialised nations - meets in Elmau, southern Germany, next month. Mr Tusk said it would be better if Russia were "a bit softer, more charming" - and in that sense "beauty does count" in international relations.
As the leaders gathered in Riga two of the six partnership states - Georgia and Ukraine - were conducting military training drills with US troops. Russia out of G7
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU's Eastern Partnership "is not an instrument for pursuing an expansionist EU policy".
But she also ruled out letting Russia rejoin the G7 group of major industrialised nations, saying "so long as Russia does not comply with basic common values, a return to the G8 format is not imaginable for us". The G7 meets in Elmau, southern Germany, next month.
On arrival in the Latvian capital Riga the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Thursday's talks were not about EU membership for the six partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
"They are not ready, we are not ready," he stressed. He also said Greece - short of funds to pay back its international creditors - was "not on the agenda".
Military training
As the two-day Riga summit got under way, Georgia and Ukraine were conducting military training drills with US troops.
Russia accuses the US and Nato of striving to pull its former Soviet partners into the Western camp, to Russia's detriment.Russia accuses the US and Nato of striving to pull its former Soviet partners into the Western camp, to Russia's detriment.
Russia is exerting pressure on ex-Soviet states to join a Moscow-led "Eurasian Union".Russia is exerting pressure on ex-Soviet states to join a Moscow-led "Eurasian Union".
A far-reaching EU-Ukraine association agreement angered Russia.A far-reaching EU-Ukraine association agreement angered Russia.
The Ukraine crisis erupted after the last Eastern Partnership summit, in Lithuania in November 2013. That was when former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych - an ally of Russia - refused to sign the association agreement, in an abrupt reversal of policy.The Ukraine crisis erupted after the last Eastern Partnership summit, in Lithuania in November 2013. That was when former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych - an ally of Russia - refused to sign the association agreement, in an abrupt reversal of policy.
He fled from Kiev in February 2014 amid vast anti-government protests in which more than 100 people died.He fled from Kiev in February 2014 amid vast anti-government protests in which more than 100 people died.
The pro-Western government, formed after fresh elections, signed the association agreement, but the crucial free trade part of it was suspended until January 2016 so that Russian concerns about it could be addressed.The pro-Western government, formed after fresh elections, signed the association agreement, but the crucial free trade part of it was suspended until January 2016 so that Russian concerns about it could be addressed.
"It's not 'either or' - partnership or not - so we are ready to talk about worries over the economic association with Ukraine," Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag - the lower house of the German parliament. Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag - the lower house of the German parliament - that it was each partner state's "sovereign decision if they want to forge close ties [with the EU]... nobody has a right to block that path".
But she stressed that it was each partner state's "sovereign decision if they want to forge close ties... nobody has a right to block that path".
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Spreading EU valuesSpreading EU values
The two-day Riga summit will open shortly with a dinner. EU leaders will hold talks with their counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
At the summit the EU is expected to approve €1.8bn (£1.3bn; $2bn) for Ukraine - the last instalment of a €3.4bn aid programme.At the summit the EU is expected to approve €1.8bn (£1.3bn; $2bn) for Ukraine - the last instalment of a €3.4bn aid programme.
Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete, a leading figure in the European Parliament's centre-right EPP bloc, urged EU leaders to make a political commitment to visa liberalisation for the six partnership countries "within a short time".Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete, a leading figure in the European Parliament's centre-right EPP bloc, urged EU leaders to make a political commitment to visa liberalisation for the six partnership countries "within a short time".
A fellow EPP politician, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski from Poland, said the Eastern Partnership was "strategically important" but faced a challenge from "Russia and its imperialistic policy in the region".A fellow EPP politician, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski from Poland, said the Eastern Partnership was "strategically important" but faced a challenge from "Russia and its imperialistic policy in the region".
There is much alarm in Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. The three Baltic states were under Russian domination during decades of communism.There is much alarm in Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. The three Baltic states were under Russian domination during decades of communism.
The EU trade and association agreements aim to encourage ex-Soviet states to adopt EU standards not only in trade, but also in human rights and governance.The EU trade and association agreements aim to encourage ex-Soviet states to adopt EU standards not only in trade, but also in human rights and governance.
Chancellor Merkel said the agreements were tailored to the situation of each partner state individually.Chancellor Merkel said the agreements were tailored to the situation of each partner state individually.
The EU would respect the wishes of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus to maintain close ties with Russia, she said.