(Xinhua) -- Russian and EU leaders argued here Friday over democracy and the relocation of a World War II statue in Estonia at a summit. Putin was quick to express his dissatisfaction over the EU's position on a range of issues, describing it as "unacceptable." I find that statement unacceptable. Lemme see, here. What are my options... ummm... okay.
"We repeat it today at this meeting: we believe it is unacceptable," Putin told a press conference following the summit held at the Volga resort in southern Russia's Samara region.
[Channeling Curly:] I'm tryin' to think, but nothin's happening...
Putin hosted the biannual summit with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country is holding the current EU presidency.
Estonia angered Russia in late April when it moved a bronze statue of a Soviet World War II soldier from a central square to a cemetery in the Estonian capital Tallinn, sparking riots.
Ummm... I have no opinion on the move, which sounds appropriate enough. The Estonians obviously do, and it's their country. The Russers do, too, but it's not their country, at least not anymore.
Meanwhile, the Europeans have accused Moscow of eroding democracy with its crackdowns on recent anti-Kremlin protests and curbs on press freedom, and are unhappy with Russia's opposition to Kosovo being granted independence.
The knout never seems to be too far out of reach in Mudder Rossiya.
Despite all the rhetoric though, Putin went on to say that "neighbors were not chosen" and Russia will continue to find resolutions for its tense ties with Estonia and other countries.
That sounds right prudents and mannerly to me. So what's the fuss?
Looking at tackling hurdles he said, "A difficult issue is the strengthening of a legal frame work for partnership between Russia and the EU. The EU should resolve its own problems and we have a lot of respect for that." Barroso admitted there are "difficulties" in EU-Russian relations, but said the two sides "are committed to strengthening our strategic partnership." He also complained about Russia's ban on the Polish meat imports, describing it as an "important matter" as Poland is a member of the 27-member bloc.
But Russia isn't, so they can pretty much do as they please when it comes to the Eeeeyew.
"There's no reason for a ban on Polish meat," Barroso said, adding that if there were any problems with the product it would have been banned in the EU.
Except that the Russers are banning for their own reasons and to date it's still their country, to screw up as they like.
The conference, as analysts predicted, failed to trigger talks for a new partnership agreement to replace the current one, which came into effect in 1997 with a 10-year initial duration.