Luxembourg, 15/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the sixth EU/Russia Cooperation Council on Tuesday, chaired by Tassos Giannitis and attended by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Igor Ivanov and the CFSP High Representative, Javier Solana, Ministers discussed international issues and their respective internal developments.
The EU noted "positive signs", while stressing that progress was still needed in human rights in Chechnya, according to a Presidency source, which added that the issue is not formally on the agenda but should be tackled on 31 May in St Petersburg. Ministers had an exchange of views on the Middle East and on Russian cooperation in CFSP. In the context of the Iraqi crisis, they discussed at length the humanitarian dimension. In an effort to "rationalise their political dialogue", the two parties proposed to base themselves more on the results rather than the structures. They will therefore be able to reduce the number of their meetings and reorientate their dialogue in the framework of the partnership agreement and coordination. The EU/Russian readmission agreement was also brought up: a meeting is planned before May to settle some "technical questions", indicated a Presidency source.
In its conclusions, the Cooperation Council insisted on the concept of a common European area being finalised before the end of November. It also welcomed the adoption of a dispute settling mechanism between the APC, the EU and Russia, which will enter into force as soon as the formal procedures are finished. In the trade domain, the EU is hoping for a rapid regulation of issues linked to energy prices and the payment of excessive taxes by European companies for flying over Siberia. The EU also expressed worries about first generation nuclear reactors in Russia. The EU and Russia also agreed to strengthen their cooperation at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO for fighting against accidents and maritime pollution's. The Council also stressed the importance of implementing an action plan against organised crime and is earnestly awaiting the EU/Russia Presidential meeting for 20 May on Justice and Home Affairs. Welcoming the adoption of the adoption of regulations on documents facilitating transit between Kaliningrad and continental Russia on Monday by the Council of the EU (see EUROPE yesterday p 11), the EU pointed out the importance of rapidly ratifying the agreement on the borders with Lithuania and of concluding a readmission agreement with Lithuania, as agreed at the EU/Russia summit in November 2003.