25 April 2002 00:00
PRIME MINISTER MIKHAIL KASYANOV HOLDS TALKS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT ROMANO PRODI
Mikhail Kasyanov has held a meeting in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and also members of this Commission. At a press conference following the talks the Russian Prime Minister said that the key theme at the meeting had been questions relating to energy cooperation between Russia and the European Union.
Kasyanov stressed that the stable supply of energy resources to the countries of the European Union is one of the priorities in Russian-EU cooperation. In this connection he announced that at present Russia is considering different schemes for gas deliveries to the West European market and among the main transit countries mentioned, in particular, Ukraine.
The Prime Minister also reported that in relation to the upcoming EU enlargement the problem of free movement of the residents of the Kaliningrad Region should be solved on the basis of a bilateral compromise. During the talks the Russian delegation met with understanding from the European Commission regarding this problem, he said. The Prime Minister noted that conclusively a decision on the Kaliningrad Region is planned to be taken in May during an upcoming Russia-EU summit. Besides, the summit is expected to discuss giving Russia by the European Union the status of a market economy country, as well as problems concerning Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization.
Kasyanov expressed satisfaction with the meeting and emphasized that the talk had passed "in a good, constructive atmosphere." Russia and the European Union are reaching a new level of cooperation, he noted, "whether in security cooperation or in the formation of a common economic space." He also expressed the confidence that such meetings will be held on a regular basis.
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