Brussels, 06/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 6 February 2009, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, expressed the EU's desire for its relations with Russia to take the form of positive interdependence and for the EU's strategic partnership with Moscow to be relaunched and based on “reliability and predictability”. Following the crises of recent months (the war in Georgia and the interruption of Russian gas exports in January), we should now “create trust through reliability and predictability,” said Barroso. The new EU framework agreement with Russia that is currently being negotiated (the next meeting is scheduled for 13 February 2009) should contain “legally binding commitments,” in all areas of cooperation and particularly “robust” rules on energy, added Barroso, who was on an official visit in Moscow with no fewer than nine EU Commissioners (see EUROPE 9833). He repeated the EU's determination to diversify its energy supply routes and confirmed the European Commission's support for Nabucco. This doesn't mean that the European Commission opposes the two projects that are backed by Russia, NordStream and SouthStream, stressed Barroso. Russia's prime minister, Vladimir Putin, said he wanted EU the observers that are in Ukraine and Russia to monitor the transit of Russian gas towards Europe to remain in place until “at least” the end of March 2009. Barroso said he agreed and the observers would remain in place as long as Kiev and Moscow wished them to.
Barroso and the Commissioners also had an interview with the Russian President, Dimitri Medvedev (which Vladimir Putin did not attend), where they expressed the EU's concern at the recent deaths of journalists and human rights activists in Russia. The President of the European Commission again repeated this concern at a press conference with Vladimir Putin, much to the latter's clear disgust. Russia is prepared to discuss all problems, including freedom and the rule of law, but the debate has to take place “in a more comprehensive manner” and cover problems in the EU as well, replied the Russian President. Putin said he was unhappy with the way the Russian-speaking minority is being treated in the Baltic States, and criticised the violation of the rights of immigrants and the situation in prisons in some democratic countries of Europe. We do not claim to be perfect and accept criticism, said Barroso, adding that the Baltic States are democracies that respect the rule of law. In a mature relationship like that of the EU and Russia, said Barroso, it should be possible to talk openly about all issues, including those where the two sides disagree. (H.B. trans fl)