Russia and the European Union(EU) agreed on Thursday to carry on
their dialogue on energy to tackle energy security and signed an
agreement that eases visa rules for travel between the two
sides.
After three hours of discussion at a Russia-EU summit in the
Black Sea resort of Sochi, they appeared still divided over the
central issue of energy, with talk of "a sensitive perception of
energy" in Europe and Russian demand for reciprocal moves for
allowing European companies greater access to Russia's energy
sector.
Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter and a supplier
of about a quarter of the oil and gas consumed in the EU, has
declared energy security the top priority during its presidency of
the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized nations this
year.
The Sochi meeting was seen as part of the diplomatic build-up to
the G8 summit which Russian President Vladimir Putin will host in
his hometown of St. Petersburg in mid-July.
Speaking at a press conference after EU leaders' talks with
Putin, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said there
is "a sensitive perception of energy" in Europe and also in the
world that there could be a gap between demand and supply.
"So one of the conclusions today is that we have agreed to go on
with the energy dialogue between the EU and Russia," Barroso
said.
But Putin was quick to cast Russia as a credible energy supplier
at a time when rising demand has more than doubled prices.
"Russia has been and will continue to be a reliable partner for
our European colleagues," he said.
"We have been and will be extending our possibilities in the
energy area. We offer our resources to the international market,"
Putin said.
Russia signed a deal with Germany last year to build a major gas
pipeline to northern Europe on the Baltic seabed.
The construction of the pipeline and measures to strengthen
energy security on the continent are "aimed at improving the
quality of life for Europeans," Putin said.
Visa deal
In Sochi, Russian and EU leaders signed an agreement easing visa
rules and an accord on readmitting those who enter Russia or the EU
illegally or overstay the limits of their visas.
The visa agreement would facilitate the issuing of short-stay
visas for some Russian and EU citizens, including students, civil
servants, culture workers and journalists.
The visa deal would "bring a new strong impetus to business
initiatives, cultural and scientific links, as well as student
exchanges," Putin said at the start of the talks.
The agreements are expected to come into force by the end of
this year.
The leaders also discussed the Iranian nuclear program, the
Middle East peace process and the situation on the Balkans.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel, whose country currently
holds the rotating EU presidency, said in Sochi that both the EU
and Russia stand for a diplomatic solution to the dispute over
Iran's nuclear program.
"We share the same objective: a diplomatic and peaceful solution
to the Iranian nuclear problem," he said.
Putin echoed Schussel's view and said the discussion showed
Russia and the EU shared same or similar positions on many European
and global issues, which provides a basis for effective cooperation
in strengthening security in Europe and in the world as a
whole.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)
