CZECH REPUBLIC: EU leaders launch plan for closer ties with six ex-Soviet states as Germany's Merkel underlines importance of Prague summit

Record ID: 1532128

  • Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: EU leaders launch plan for closer ties with six ex-Soviet states as Germany's Merkel underlines importance of Prague summit
  • Date: 10th May 2009
  • Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (MAY 07, 2009) (REUTERS) WOMAN WALKING PAST POSTER READING "FREEDOM TO POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BELARUS!" SOME 15 PROTESTERS GATHERED ACROSS ENTRANCE TO CONFERENCE CENTRE WHERE LEADERS MET BANNER READING "STOP DICTATORSHIP" POLICEMEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE MOTORCADE ARRIVNG REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR SAYING: "Everyone needs to decide for himself (whether or not to attend summit). Let me repeat that for me, it was important that Germany be present here because we are a country which has big interests both in the east as well as the Mediterranean area and both dimensions are of great importance to us." (Reporter asking: Will you meet the Fiat boss? He is said to be in Germany tomorrow." "My schedule is different." CAMERA CREWS AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (English) BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER, EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS SAYING "At the beginning, Russia never wanted to be in the neighbourhood policy but we have a strategic partnership with Russia. And indeed, case by case ad hoc certainly on the multilateral front, Russia might be invited but not at this launching process. So I don't see why -- indeed we have explained to Russia the situation -- so we really don't understand." FRENCH PRIME MINISTER FRANCOIS FILLON GETTING OUT OF CAR FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER BERNARD KOUCHNER ARRIVING ON FOOT UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO WALKING PAST BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILLIBAND WALKING PAST HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER GORDON BAJNAI WALKING PAST MERKEL AND OTHERS ARRIVING FOR FAMILY POTO MERKEL IN DISCUSSION CZECH PRIME MINISTER MIREK TOPOLANEK AND ALIYEV ON PODIUM ALIYEV WIDE OF FAMILY PHOTO BAJNAI GETTING ONTO PODIUM YUSHCHENKO AND BARROSO BAJNAI (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS OF FAMILY PHOTO
  • Embargoed: 26th May 2009 10:25
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Czech Republic
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAZHSJYZZA2O7K1URCG5XPVQ2S
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The European Union launched a plan on Thursday (May 7) to forge closer political and economic ties with six former Soviet republics while assuring Russia it is not trying to muscle in on its sphere of influence.
    The EU's eastern neighbours Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are suffering from the global economic crisis and the EU is keen to prevent instability in a region that carries all its gas imports from Russia.
    Asked to comment on various EU leaders who did not attend the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters "everyone needs to decide for himself" whether or not to attend the Prague summit.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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