Strasbourg, 17/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - By adopting a resolution tabled by five political groups on the EU-Russia Summit of 29 May, the European Parliament welcomes the deepening of the strategic partnership with Russia (see EUROPE of 16 May, p.15). It reaffirms the importance it grants to the creation of a common European economic area covering Russia and urges both sides to use the conciliation procedures provided by the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement more effectively so as to accelerate the elimination of obstacles to trade, investments and transit, and supports Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation. Parliament encourages the introduction of a dialogue on energy which, it says, should become the cornerstone for a common strategy on sustainable development. The EP says it is concerned at the situation of the media in Russia, and urges both sides to pursue and intensify their co-operation in the field of foreign, security and defence policy, and to examine the possible setting up of specifically Russian military units in view, given the considerable experience these units have in peacekeeping, of future crisis management operations. Parliament calls on the Council and Commission to retain the question of Chechnya high on the agenda, as specific issue, and to reiterate the appeal made to the Russian authorities in favour of a resumption of negotiations with all parties, including representatives of the Maskhadov Government, while proposing that the EU act as mediator. In also insists on Russia's doing all it can to facilitate the emergence of a positive solution in Abkhazia, Southern Ossetia and Nagorny-Karabakh, and calls on the Council to adopt a common strategy for the region. Finally, Parliament considers that co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs is of major importance for both sides and that co-operation should be largely re-enforced in the fight against terrorism, money laundering, trafficking in human beings and arms and drugs trafficking.