- Title: POLAND: Poland demands a lift of Russia's trade ban on farm products
- Date: 18th November 2006
- Summary: (CEEF) WARSAW, POLAND (NOVEMBER 17, 2006) (REUTERS) AGRICULTURE MINISTER ANDRZEJ LEPPER WALKING INTO PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PHOTO (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) AGRICULTURE MINISTER ANDRZEJ LEPPER, SAYING: "Our minimum requirement is for Russia to open its market for Polish products. It was closed exactly one year ago in October 2005. Over this time our farmers have lost a lot by not being able to export to the Russian market. We distance ourselves from accusations of contraband or smuggling (of illegal farm products). If there is any smuggling then both Poland and Russia have to pursue the smugglers and prosecute them. We think it's good that the talks entered into the European Union level during the Finnish presidency and that the Prime Minister of Finland is coming to Poland to meet with our Prime Minister. I think this matter is on a good course to being resolved." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE LEPPER STANDING UP AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 3rd December 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Poland
- Country: Poland
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAEV7D88EZOKP3Z3JBFU6VAG9ZC
- Story Text: Poland stuck to its guns on Friday (October 17) in a trade row with Russia, repeating that it would use its veto to block a landmark EU-Russia strategic partnership if a ban on its food products was not lifted by Moscow.
Warsaw is blocking consensus in the 25-nation EU on a negotiating mandate for a new agreement due to be initiated at an EU-Russia summit in Helsinki on November 24, in protest over a Russian ban on imports of meat and some other foods from Poland.
European Union president, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, was due to visit Warsaw later on Friday for talks with his Polish counterpart, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, in an attempt to break the deadlock.
Polish Agriculture Minister Andrzej Lepper told a news conference only the reopening of Russian markets to Polish produce would persuade Warsaw to back down.
"Our minimum requirement is for Russia to open its market for Polish products," Lepper said.
"It was closed exactly one year ago in October 2005. Over this time our farmers have lost a lot by not being able to export to the Russian market. We distance ourselves from accusations of contraband or smuggling (of illegal farm products). If there is any smuggling then both Poland and Russia have to pursue the smugglers and prosecute them."
Russia banned imports of Polish meat and other foods last year after finding some veterinary certificates had been forged.
The European Commission is trying to help by sending a fact-finding mission of experts to verify that Polish food exports meet EU health and safety standards in a bid to persuade Moscow to lift the ban.
"We think it's good that the talks entered into the European Union level during the Finnish presidency and that the Prime Minister of Finland is coming to Poland to meet with our Prime Minister. I think this matter is on a good course to being resolved," Lepper said.
Agriculture Ministry officials said the mission was part of a regular inspection that had already given Poland an all-clear in July, and that they expected the team to back the Poles' case.
Warsaw says the import ban is politically motivated and aimed at splitting the EU and discriminating against former Soviet satellite countries that stand up to Moscow.
Russia has said the Polish stance is tantamount to unacceptable blackmail, but the Poles have gained declarations of support from Lithuania and France this week and believe they are gaining ground. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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