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French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L)
talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ahead of an EU-Russia summit
in Nice, southern France, Nov. 14, 2008. The EU and Russia held the summit
in Nice on Nov. 14. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
NICE, France, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU)
and Russian leaders began their summit Friday in the southern French city of
Nice to discuss a whole range of issues, including Georgia, security in Europe
and the current financial crisis.
The summit was held at a time when EU-Russia
relations are soured by the Russia-Georgia military conflict and trade disputes
between Russia and the EU.
EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to resume
negotiations with Russia on a framework agreement, creating favorable atmosphere
for the EU-Russia summit. But thorny issues abound.
The EU attempts to come to agreement with Russia to
resume the negotiations, hopefully in early December, said an EU official prior
to the summit. EU leaders suspended the talks in September in response to
Russia's military action in Georgia.
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L)
welcomes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ahead of an EU-Russia summit in
Nice, southern France, Nov. 14, 2008. The EU and Russia held the summit in
Nice on Nov. 14. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
The EU will persuade Russia to give monitors from the
EU and the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) access
to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The EU also wants full access of humanitarian
experts and reconstruction aid experts in the two regions, said the official who
spoke on condition of anonymity.
Trade will be an important topic at the summit.
Despite rapid growth in bilateral trade, there is "an unnecessarily long list of
irritants," said the EU official. Thorny issues include Russia's insistence on
demanding payments from EU airlines that use Russian airspace, or Siberian
overflight rights; duties on Russian wood exports; Russian trade barriers on
agricultural products; and delays in customs reform.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is expected to discuss with EU leaders his proposal on a new European security architecture. But the EU member states are yet to reach consensus on this issue.
The two sides will also spent considerable time on the current financial crisis as the leaders will travel to Washington immediately after the Nice summit to attend a Group of 20 summit dedicated to the crisis.
Medvedev: Russian, EU share common views on financial crisis
PARIS, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the European Union (EU) share some common views on the current international financial crisis, said President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.
Speaking at the EU-Russia investors forum held in Cannes in southeast France, Medvedev said Russia has reached consensus with the EU on issues such as the cause and nature of the ongoing financial crisis. Full story
EU, Russian leaders hold summit in difficult times
NICE, France, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) and Russian leaders meet in the southern French city of Nice at a time when relations are soured by the Russia-Georgia military conflict and trade disputes between Russia and the EU.
EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to resume negotiations with Russia on a framework agreement, creating favorable atmosphere for the EU-Russia summit. But thorny issues abound. Full story
