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RIA Novosti
The Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the EU high representative for foreign Affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini, will hold on Tuesday talks in Brussels, which will discuss the prospects of cooperation between Russia and the European Union, and international issues.
In the capital of Belgium, the Minister will come from the Austrian Mauerbach, where he will participate in the informal Ministerial meeting of OSCE. In Brussels, Lavrov will spend two days, on Wednesday he will also meet with Belgian foreign Minister Didier Reynders. NATO no contact 11-12 of July is not scheduled.
The previous meeting of Lavrov with the head of European diplomacy took place in Moscow on April 24. Then, the parties reviewed the status of sectoral cooperation between Russia and the European Union, including energy, expressed the intention to intensify political dialogue, discussed the situation in Syria and Ukraine. “During the meeting will address some aspects of bilateral relations in the context reached in April of agreements to intensify dialogue on topics of mutual interest, as well as topical issues on the international agenda”, – said earlier the Russian foreign Ministry.Sanctions as the main stimulus
In depodesta stressed that relations between Russia and the EU are going through a difficult period, in particular due to the EU imposed anti-Russian sanctions. “The main stimulus to remain, the sanctions do not favor any of the parties. The EU, once again extending the anti-Russian sectoral sanctions and a package of restrictive measures in respect of Crimea and Sevastopol, missed the chance to get out of the vicious circle of sanctions, poison the atmosphere of Russian-EU relations,” the Ministry said. The foreign Ministry recalled that are still frozen in many important areas of cooperation.
While in Moscow emphasize the absurdity of the attempt to link the abolition of restrictive measures with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “In contacts with European partners point out the absurdity of linking the sanctions against Russia with the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which only contributes to the fact that Kiev is openly sabotaging the performance of its obligations,” – said in depodesta.
The position of Moscow against unilaterally imposed measures remains unchanged. “No discussion of the conditions of cancellation we to not intend. The first to abandon them should the one who initiated it, that is the EU,” the foreign Ministry said.Trends in trade
Despite the fact that relations between Russia and the EU “hard times”, the parties remain major trading partners, noted the Minister. “The European Union accounts for 45% of foreign trade turnover of Russia. Russia, in turn, is the fourth largest trade partner of the EU,” said depodesta.
At the same time in Moscow have concluded that “amid lower energy prices and a General slowdown in the growth of global trade and adopted restrictive measures” over the last three years trade turnover between Russia and the EU fell from a record $417,7 billion in 2013 to $to 200, 4 billion last year. However, continued the foreign Ministry, this negative trend is gradually starting to improve in January-April this year, bilateral trade increased by 32.3% compared to the same period in 2016.
“However, to achieve pre-crisis levels still have a lot to do,” said the Ministry.Common interests
The Russian side is convinced that in the conditions of increased international tension and unpredictability “alternatives to the maintenance of multifaceted Russian-EU contacts no.” In dipvedomstva note and welcome the trend to the growing interest of the EU in the dialogue with Russia. “One of the priorities is developing and maintaining contacts in the field of security, primarily in countering international terrorism, illegal drug trafficking and illegal migration and organized crime,” – said the Minister.
“Russia’s stance remains unchanged – we are willing to build mutually beneficial relations with the EU and its member countries on the basis of equality, respect for national interests and objective interdependence of economies due to territorial proximity and complementarity. And ready to go this route so far will be ready for this Brussels”, – stressed in dipvedomstva.
To take the relations of Russia and the EU out of the crisis would help to progress towards a common economic and humanitarian space from Lisbon to Vladivostok, believe in the Ministry of foreign Affairs. “The economic basis of this long-term project, we see the development of cooperation between the Eurasian economic Union and the European Union”, – stressed in dipvedomstva. The synergy between these two integration associations “promote the development of a broad zone of stability and peace in Eurasia”, the Ministry said.The silence of EU
The foreign service of the EU, headed by Mogherini, has not given any substantive comments on the upcoming negotiations. As stated in Monday’s press conference, a representative of the foreign service of the EU Maya Kocijancic, Mogherini intends to discuss with Lavrov on July 11 issues of foreign policy and bilateral relations between Brussels and Moscow.
“Yes, I can confirm that tomorrow in the afternoon, the high representative will meet with Minister Lavrov, she said. – Foreign policy and the bilateral agenda will be discussed”.
Representative of the foreign service emphasized that the upcoming meeting will be held in the framework of the ongoing contacts of the EU with the authorities of the Russian Federation for discussion of international issues and topics of common interest. “Currently, we finalize the agenda of the meeting,” – said Kosyanchich.