EU happy with Russia position on Iran N-drive |
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| Wednesday, 04 May 2005 | |
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IranMania
LONDON, May 4 (IranMania) - Iran's nuclear programme is among the international issues on the agenda of the 15th summit between the European Union and Russia to be held in Moscow on May 10, IRNA reported. "We are grateful to Russia for some of the positions that it has taken on Iran," EU sources told reporters in Brussels. "There is not a great deal of difference between the EU and Russia's position on Iran. We have held very constructive discussion with Russia in the past weeks and months." "Russia has backed up many, many of our positions in our negotiations with Iran," said the sources speaking on condition of anonymity. The summit is expected to relaunch an ambitious EU-Russia strategic partnership. Talks will cover an agreement on a comprehensive package of measures to create four EU-Russia common spaces in the fields of economy, external security, freedom, security and justice, and education, research and culture. Negotiations are in their final stages. The common space of external security will set the scene for enhanced EU-Russia cooperation to resolve the lingering frozen conflicts in Europe (Transdniestria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh), said EU sources. The EU's aim is to engage Russia in concrete actions as well as political dialogue in order to reinforce the efforts that the EU already undertook in these regions. The EU will also express its readiness to support economic and social recovery in the North Caucasus region, in addition to the continued need for humanitarian assistance, which it will call on Russia to facilitate. The EU will underline that tackling inequality and promoting human rights -- as factors contributing to stability -- remain key challenges and will express its hope that free and fair parliamentary elections in Chechnya this autumn will rally the support of the population. "There shall be no spheres of influence. No more dividing lines in Europe," stressed the EU sources. The fight against terrorism and proliferation of WMDs will also be raised during the Moscow summit. At the summit, the EU will underline its support for Russia's WTO accession in 2005. The two sides will also discuss an agreement on readmission of illegal immigrants from Russia and nationals of third countries, which cross into the EU from Russia as well as visa facilitation for Russians visiting the EU. EU sources say that there can be no visa facilitation for Russians without the readmission agreement. The European bloc is seeking a closer dialogue with Russia on Chechnya and wants the consultations on human rights with Russia to become a regular feature. The summit will take place just one day after the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The EU will be represented by the Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the current EU presidency, and by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, will also participate. The Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead his country at the one-day summit.
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