- Title: RUSSIA: TRICKY EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT OPENS IN MOSCOW
- Date: 17th May 2001
- Summary: (U3) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 17, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN WALKING IN WITH SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER GORAN PERSSON/ SHAKES HANDS WITH EUROPEAN UNION (EU) PRESIDENT ROMANO PRODI AND EU FOREIGN ENVOY JAVIER SOLANA 0.17 2. MV: PUTIN, PERSSON, PRODI AND SOLANA POSING FOR PRESS 0.21 3. MV: PUTIN WALKING INTO SAINT CATHERINE HALL FOR ROUND TABLE TALKS/ SHAKES HANDS WITH DELEGATES 0.35 4. WIDE OF DELEGATES SITTING DOWN 0.43 5. SCU: SOUNDBITE (Russian) PUTIN: "I am sure that the European states will take a more active part in all these processes, including key problems of strategic stability. Russia is ready for a joint search with the EU for responses to global threats and challenges as well as ways to solve regional conflicts. Our main task is to create a more stable, safer life with higher living standards in Europe and the world in general." 1.24 6. WIDE PAN OF DELEGATES SEATED AT TABLE 1.35 7. CU: EXTERIOR; KREMLIN CLOCK 1.41 8. WIDE EXTERIOR OF KREMLIN BUILDING; PEOPLE WALKING BY 1.47 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVADRNQF166QXNNFSPB9SXGM1HVP
- Story Text: A tricky Russia-EU summit is under way in Moscow, with
EU leaders pushing the Russian government to finalise a
nuclear waste clean-up pact and tough exchanges expected on
Russia's economy, Chechnya and press freedom.
President Vladimir Putin met with EU leaders, confident
that Russia's recovery from the August 1998 financial crisis
means the government could now robustly defend its stance on
economic reform, press freedom, and its 20-month crackdown in
separatist Chechnya.
"Russia is ready for a joint search with the EU for
responses to global threats and challenges, as well as ways to
solve regional conflicts," Putin said in an opening speech.
"Our main task is to create a more stable, safer life with
higher living standards in Europe and the world in general"
The 15-nation European Union was represented at the
summit by Prime Minister Goran Persson of Sweden, current
holder of the Union's rotating presidency, Commission
President Romano Prodi and top EU foreign envoy Javier Solana.
Sweden is keen to push the clean-up deal, which could
release hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with nuclear
waste, such as reactors in decommissioned nuclear submarines
and spent fuel rods in northern Russia and on the Kola
peninsula.
But Russia's RIA news agency quoted Kremlin officials as
saying the accord could be "a problem", as Moscow opposes any
arrangement that would make it fully liable for damages
resulting from incidents linked to nuclear materials.
The pact was signed in 1999 but implementation has been
delayed by wrangling over who would be liable if there was an
accident during the clean-up.
Western states, including the United States and Norway,
want Russia to remove tax and duties if equipment has to be
imported or bought in Russia.
Russia's human rights record has also come under sharp
attack in the West, with calls for full independent probes of
alleged abuses by government troops.
Moscow has said it would listen to constructive criticism
but warned against "political slogans" that have nothing to do
with real life and practice.
EU officials are also keen to push forward talks on
energy.
Russia supplies 21 percent of the Union's oil imports and
41 percent of its gas imports, but says it needs 670 billion
euros ($588 billion) of investment in its creaking energy
sector by 2020.
The two sides will also discuss the spiraling violence in
the Middle East, as well as mounting clashes with ethnic
Albanian rebels in Macedonia and Kosovo.
Russia is not hostile to the EU's desire to play a greater
role in international affairs, but skeptical of its ability to
act independently of the United States.
Also to be discussed is Russia's Baltic enclave of
Kaliningrad, a former nuclear port closed to foreigners in the
Soviet era, which is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
Persson and Putin will also be able to compare notes about
North Korea, the reclusive Stalinist state visited earlier
this month by the Swede and by Putin last July.
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