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Europe
EU sets out tough terms on relations with Russia
2004-02-11
The EU formally set out its policy towards Russia on Monday with a strongly-worded statement saying the bloc would press Moscow on human rights and Chechnya while boosting ties with other ex-Soviet states. The European Union decided in December on a complete review of its Russia policy ahead of the bloc’s expansion in May to take in three former Soviet Baltic republics and several ex-satellite states of the former Soviet Union. The new document appeared aimed at establishing clarity after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, as holder of the rotating EU presidency in November, praised Russia’s Chechen policy -- a direct contradiction of executive Commission views.
"Mr. Berlusconi, please call your handler for instructions"
Monday’s Communication called for "policy coherence" over Russia, an economic power with vast resources, a major supplier of natural gas to the EU it will soon border. It reflects long-standing European concerns over what the union sees as Russia’s poor record on human rights. "The Communication calls for the EU to underline that the EU-Russia partnership must be founded on shared values and common interests, which implies discussing frankly any Russian practices that run counter to European values, including those on human rights, media freedom and cooperation on the environment," the EU’s executive Commission said in a statement.

NEW FOCUS ON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
EU-Russian trade was worth 78 billion euros last year, but an EU official said last week the bloc was frustrated that the two sides were making slow progress in relations in other areas. Ties between Brussels and Moscow are set to rise up the agenda following EU enlargement, but the Communication setting out the new policy notes that "in many areas EU and Russian positions appear to have diverged" in recent years. Divergences include Russia’s failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, the need to make a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with all 10 acceding EU states work more effectively and the Chechen conflict.
The EU doesn't have an equivalent to Chechnya. Yet.
The Communication also recommended the EU upgrade its policy towards the southern Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and the western states of the former Soviet Union -- Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. This is likely to prove contentious as Moscow sees these as firmly in its "backyard". The EU has already boosted ties with Georgia, where pro-western leader Mikhail Saakashvili took over in January from ousted President Eduard Shevardnadze. Saakashvili has asked Russia to remove its remaining military bases within three years, while Moscow originally said it needed to keep them for at least a decade, although it later softened its tone, saying they could go in seven to nine years.
Putin is not happy with growing US influence there
The EU document will be discussed by the 25 current and future bloc foreign ministers in Brussels on February 23.
As I’ve said here before, IMO the EU is beginning to expand beyond its ability to impose a single social, economic and political agenda on its members. With natural gas stocks very low all around the globe, and with Putin’s proposal to open an oil terminal in the northwest that would be ideal for shipping both oil and gas to the US, the triumverate of France - Germany - Russia was a very temporary one. Things will simmer in the ’Stans over the next few years, though, as the US consolidates relationships there.
Posted by:rkb

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