By RIA Novosti
Moscow, President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that Russia’s ties with the European Union (EU) would gain new momentum when Portugal takes over the rotating EU presidency from Germany July 1.
Speaking with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, Putin said: “We expect that a new impetus will be given to Russia’s relations with European partners in the second part of this year, when Portugal becomes EU chairman.”
Russia and the EU failed to launch talks on a new cooperation pact at a summit in Russia earlier in May over Poland’s veto imposed in the wake of a Russian ban on meat exports.
The summit was also marred by an exchange of human rights criticisms and Europe’s concerns about Russia’s energy policy.
Referring to a confiscated shipment of Polish meat in Germany recently, Putin said: “I will meet with (Chancellor) Angela Merkel in Germany soon (at a G8 summit). I will not tell her ‘You do not want this meat, but want to feed it to us.’ I will not say that.”
Putin said the dispute with Poland should not overshadow Russia-Europe cooperation on the whole. He said Russia had refused imports of poor quality meat via Poland from third countries, but suggested opening its market to some Polish producers. “This is a quite clear signal of our willingness to cooperate and hold talks on this issue.”
Socrates said Portugal would push for signing the partnership deal with Russia during its EU presidency. And echoing Putin’s remarks that dialogue with Europe should be without ‘arrogant lecturing to Russia on democracy’, he said they should develop a relationship “without teaching each other morals.”