25/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Despite more cordial relations between the EU and Russia, there is not yet any timeline for introducing the agreement on flying over Siberia (see EUROPE 9147 and 9314) negotiated in November 2006 and initialled at the Helsinki Summit. The agreement is designed to phase out (by 1 January 2014) the surcharges paid by EU airlines wishing to fly over Siberia to Russian airline Aeroflot. On behalf of the EU, Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani raised the issue at his meeting on Thursday 24 July 2008 with Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizov, calling for the agreement to be speedily introduced. Russia said that for 'technical reasons' it was not possible for the moment to implement the negotiated solution. Tajani and Chizov's meeting was held at the request of the Russian ambassador. The European Commission explains in a press release that the two men discussed the pursuit of strategic dialogue on transport issues between the EU and Russia. (A. By /transl. fl)