Brussels, 21/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - The foreign policy coordinator of the European People's Party (EPP), German CDU MEP Elmar Brok, held a series of meetings with Russian leaders in Moscow on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 December. Brok is the former president of the EP's foreign affairs committee. He held meetings with Dmitri Midvale - the probable successor in March 2008 to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian foreign minister - Sergei Lavrov, and the president of the Duma - Boris Gryzlov. According to an EPP press release, the talks focussed on Kosovo, disarmament treaties, energy security, the United States anti-missile shield, Russia's future membership of the World Trade Organisation, and prospects for speedy opening of talks on a new strategic partnership between the EU and Russia. The press release added that according to Brok, “Russia on the one hand has to acknowledge that the Soviet Union caused suffering among the people in many of the current EU member states. The EU on the other hand has to - as far as possible - accept Russia as an equal partner. The latter is a precondition for successful cooperation in order to master many of today's challenges, starting with the fight against terrorism, energy security and the protection of intellectual property rights.' Brok added that at the same time, the EU must not shirk from defending its values and democratic principles. (H.B)