Presidents of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Poland's President Lech Kaczyński have opposed the revival of partnership and cooperation negotiations of the EU and Russia until the latter withdraws all troops from Georgia. The presidents released the joint declaration November 3, 2008.

"We reiterate that under the continued occupation of Georgian territories it would be too early to resume talks on a new partnership agreement with Russia," says the declaration available at the web of the president of the Republic of Lithuania.

"The new partnership agreement cannot be compatible with Russian military incursions into the neighboring states. We stress once again the importance of the September 1st EU Summit Conclusions agreed by all EU leaders and we underline that negotiations on the EU and Russia agreement should be renewed only when Russia withdraws its troops from Georgia to the positions held prior to August 7th," the declaration says.

France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner urged October 28 to set a new schedule for the cooperation negotiations at November 13 summit in Nice. The minister made the respective statement after the sitting of partnership council of the EU and Russia that was held in St. Petersburg and attended by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The negotiations about the new basic cooperation agreement of the EU and Russia were suspended due to the military conflict in the Caucasus in August of 2008.

Source >  Kommersant | nov 04

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