BNS: Mandate of EU-Russian talks undecided, step forward taken - Lithuanian foreign affairs minister
Updated 2008-05-07
VILNIUS, Apr 29, BNS - Although the decision on the mandate for the talks on the strategic partnership agreement between the European Union (EU) and Russia is yet to be made, a step forward has been taken, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas. Photo by AP
Lithuania blocked the mandate of EU-Russian talks at the meeting of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxemburg on Tuesday. "Fellow ministers made a number of constructive and valuable proposals. All EU members have a good understanding of Lithuanian interests, however,efforts will still need to be made to indicate them in the mandate," the Foreign Ministry said.According to the press release, further harmonization of positions will be carried out by Dimitry Rupel, foreign minister of Slovenia, which is the community's current president that proposed the mandate of EU-Russian talks.
Lithuania has earlier warned that failure of EU partners to take into consideration its proposals would lead to its vote against to the mandate of EU-Russian negotiations, which is necessary for the start of the EU-Russian dialogue on the strategic partnership treaty.
Lithuania is aiming to consolidate Russia's obligation to observe requirements provisioned in the Energy Charter Treaty in the Energy declaration to be attached to the negotiations mandate. Russia is invited to take a more active approach to cooperation in dealing with the question of renewing supply of energy resources via the Druzhba pipeline, which has been arrested over purported poor technical state since 2006.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry also notes that Russia's actions with regards to neighboring states are connected with the security of Lithuania and, in turn, the EU, therefore Lithuania proposes adding another declaration regarding Georgia and Moldova as well.
Lithuania would like to see a declaration on juridical cooperation in the mandate as well. This type of a declaration would promote Russia's constructive cooperation with EU nations in criminal cases such as that of Jan. 13, 1991 in Vilnius, as well as the Medininkai border checkpoint massacre of June 31, 1991, and also cases regarding EU citizens gone missing in Russia.
Lithuania is also aiming to have another declaration attached regarding compensation of persons, who were deported from occupied Baltic countries. Ensuring assistance to deported persons was one of Russia's international commitments outlined in the conditions of European Council accession.
