Brussels, 19/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has informed his EU counterparts that Warsaw would no longer block the opening of talks on a new EU-Russia partnership agreement. That was the news announced by Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel on Monday 18 February following the External relations Council which he chaired. “During the meeting today, we considered the matter of the Russia-EU partnership agreement. Our Polish colleagues informed us of the withdrawal of their reservation on this issue, and of the agreement reached with Russia” on exports of Polish meat to Russia, Rupel told press. The way to opening negotiations with Russia, however, is still not fully open. Lithuania still has some problems over giving its approval because of the decision, taken by Russia in 2007, to close the Druzhba oil pipeline. Since the closure of Druzhba (for technical reasons, according to the Russians; for political reasons according to the Lithuanians) the Mazeikiu refinery in Lithuania has had to bring in supplies of crude oil by sea, a much more expensive option than using the pipeline. Discussions are continuing between Lithuania and the Slovenian Presidency of the EU. Diplomats close to the matter have not ruled out a solution to the problem being found before the end of the month. (H.B.)