December 11, 2006

Poland says Russia must lift meat embargo before EU talks

Poland's foreign minister said Friday (Dec 8) that it would lift its objections to Russia negotiating a cooperation agreement with the European Union if Moscow lifted its ban on Polish meat imports.

Russia has banned the import of Polish meat and agricultural products because of what it says are shoddy Polish customs practices.

The ban led Warsaw to block the start of negotiations on a new, more ambitious EU-Russia cooperation accord to replace a 1997 agreement that expires next year.

"We would like to see negotiations start as soon as possible provided that Russia is willing to lift the embargo,'' Anna Fotyga told reporters during a visit to Tallinn.

Fotyga said Poland would like see "a certain level of solidarity" from other EU members in solving the dispute.

"There is no consent for any kind of (EU-Russia) agreement yet. We have to see clear signals of Russian goodwill," she said.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Estonia has also experienced difficulties in trade with Russia, particularly with fish products.

Speaking in Stockholm on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he believed the dispute between Russia and Poland would soon be resolved.

The planned EU-Russia partnership would include energy trading, a priority for Western Europe, which is becoming increasingly dependent on Russian oil and gas.