Brussels, 14/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - EU relations with Russia are tense ahead of the Samara Summit with several issues still blocking the opening of negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The question of Russia's embargo of Polish meat imports is unlikely to be settled before the Summit, and there is also the matter of Russia's attitude to Estonia and energy issues ahead of the 18 May Summit. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be meeting his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on Tuesday to try and defuse the situation but no spectacular breakthroughs are expected before Friday, according to diplomats. The German Presidency wants to avoid any escalation of tension and is determined to continue with the Summit, even if it has to be watered down somewhat. At the External Relations Council on Monday, no EU Member State called for postponement of the meeting, all the ministers explaining they would be firm and present a united front against Moscow. A pragmatic approach because the areas of EU-Russia cooperation remain on the agenda in the framework of implementing the four common areas, along with international and regional issues like the future status of Kosovo - at the weekend, Russia rejected a UN draft deal, a resolution drawn up by the EU and the United States.
Estonia said on Monday that the situation in Moscow was improving, but Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet called on Russia to respect both the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and the Council of Europe Convention on cybercrime (he said that attacks on the Estonian government's websites had been made from Russian government computers). He did not mention any potential vetoing of the opening of negotiations. Warsaw pointed out that its agreement to the launch of talks would depend on the unconditional lifting of the Russian embargo on Polish farm products and the question of energy security, which Polish minister Ana Fotyga said were of equal importance. Alongside Poland's pressure for the principles of the Energy Charter to be included in the future Partnership Agreement with Russia, the energy issue is also an area where Lithuania is making demands. Fed up with lack of progress by the Russian authorities in settling the Druzhba oil pipeline problem, Lithuania's foreign minister has also expressed reservations about entering talks with Russia. Expressing first his solidarity with Estonia and Poland, Petras Vaitiekunas told his counterparts that when Lithuania had suggested a joint assessment with Russia of the current situation of the pipeline, its suggestion had been ignored for 10 months by Russia. Despite Lithuanian efforts, no oil has been running through the pipeline after Russia suspended supplies to the Mažeikiai refinery in Lithuania following a leak in the pipeline. He added that without any tangible progress, it would be premature to seek a new agreement. The Summit should confirm the inter-dependence of Russia and the EU, their mutual interests and parity of partnership, said Vaitiekunas, adding that Moscow's attempts to put the EU in a position of calling for the agreement would not work.
Veterinary, plant health and energy issues will be covered by the Samara Summit, but no conclusions documents or joint statements will be issued. Friday's meeting will also look at the implementation of the four common spaces from the viewpoint of energy and climate change, and will also discuss Russia's accession to the WTO, visa facilitation, re-admission agreements and fundamental freedoms, particularly in the run-up to elections in Russia. In terms of international affairs, Kosovo, Iran and the Middle East will also be on the agenda. (ab)