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EU nations divided over resuming talks with Russia (AP)
2008.10.13By CONSTANT BRAND, Associated Press Writer 31 minutes ago
LUXEMBOURG - European Union nations were divided Monday over whether to resume talks on a political and economic pact with Russia that were frozen in protest at its war with Georgia.
Germany and Italy led the campaign to resume discussions on trade, energy and political ties after Moscow withdrew its forces from parts of Georgia according to the terms of an EU-brokered ceasefire.
But some EU foreign ministers, headed by Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband, said they wanted to see progress in talks on the future of the disputed Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia before pressing ahead with closer ties.
EU leaders agreed in September to suspend the talks to show their opposition to Moscow's invasion, a move that irked Russian officials. The leaders of the 27-nation bloc also ordered a review of overall ties and of alternative energy sources. Russia currently supplies a third of the EU's oil and 40 percent of its natural gas.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told an EU foreign ministers meeting Monday that Russian troops had left land outside the separatist regions but had not withdrawn to positions held before the five-day war broke out Aug. 7.
"Beyond Ossetia and Abkhazia there are no more Russians," said Kouchner, whose country currently holds the EU presidency. Kouchner, who was in Georgia last week, said "there were problems that remain."
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the EU should announce the restart of talks during an EU-Russia meeting in November.
"I think the attitude of the Russian Federation was a constructive one," Frattini said.
And Guenter Gloser, Germany's deputy foreign minister, said the EU had "a strong interest in the partnership and cooperation agreement ... so we should think about whether we are doing ourselves a favor by stalling the negotiations."
Britain said it the EU should wait on the outcome of a first round of talks between Georgia and Russia in Geneva this week before deciding on ending the freeze.
The Geneva talks, mediated by the EU, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are meant to try to resolve the stand off between Russia and Georgia over the separatist regions. Russia claims they should be independent states and has troops stationed there.
"In due course we can address the partnership and cooperation agreement, but I think at the moment we should be focusing in ensuring that all the elements that were agreed in September, including the Geneva talks, get going with proper speed," said Miliband.
The Baltic states, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Poland backed Miliband's position.
EU leaders on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels will also discuss whether to resume the talks, said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
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