Brussels, 19/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the end of her meeting with the Russian foreign affairs minister, Sergei Lavrov, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton stated in a brief press release that the EU and Russia reiterate that they have given their full support to the efforts of Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi - while their differences of opinion on how to settle the conflict seem to continue. “The EU is encouraged by the recent initiative by the coalition leader Sheik Moaz Al Khatib for a political dialogue and hopes that the representatives of the Syrian regime do not miss this opportunity to help end the violence”, Ashton said, without mentioning Russia. Russia still maintains close relations with the regime, even if Lavrov met Al Khatib for the first time on 2 February.
Ashton and Lavrov also discussed the Middle East peace process, for which Ashton underlined “the urgent need for renewed, structured and substantial peace efforts in 2013 which will require work with all international partners, including through the Quartet” - of which Russia is part. With regard to the E3+3 negotiations - in which Moscow participates - on the Iranian nuclear programme, Ashton and Lavrov hope that “Iran will come to these negotiations with flexibility and that we can make substantial progress”. Regional issues, including Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria, were also tackled.
Lastly, Ashton reiterated that the new agreement between Russia and the EU, which is still under discussion, “would bring fresh momentum” to their relationship, and she stated that Moscow is a “key strategic partner”. The day before, in their conclusions, the participants in the Northern Dimension meeting - the EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia - stressed the positive role that Northern Dimension policy can bring to the EU-Russia agenda, including the partnership for modernisation and cross-border cooperation. (CG/transl.fl)