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Russia and EU should not be afraid of each other

07 March 2009 / 17:03:00  GRReporter
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We should not be afraid of each other, nor should we create any fetishes, noted Russia’s EU representative Vladimir Chijov regarding the relationships between Russia and Europe, at the conference organized by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy ELIAMEP.


Vladimir Chijov, who had been a Russian ambassador in Athens, as well as vice-minister of foreign affairs, announced in pure Greek that four years are needed in order for a Road map of the connections between Russia and EU to be created. He reminded that the preparations for a Convention for strategic alliance have started in 2006 and the related negotiations were 18 months late, i.e. they have only started in July, 2008.


The Russian diplomat declared that “the common principals and interests” are at the foundation of the European solidarity, but instantly gave an example of how contradictory this statement was, as is obvious in the case of Cyprus, which continues to be under the occupation of the EU candidate member state.


“The European solidarity, however, is also functioning as a “one-way street”, as we can see in the relationships between Russia and EU, frozen by Poland, and the following attempts of several presidencies to unfreeze them, tripping over the idea of solidarity towards Poland”, said Chijov.


“The EU enlargement with ten more members improved Russia’s position as EU trade-partner, since the trade volume between the union and Russia suddenly raised by 50% because of the long-established relationships of the country with the new members. Despite that, the “great pains” (from the time of the Soviet Union, and even earlier- from the time of the Russian Empire) poison Russia’s connections with the expanded European Union.”


In a conclusion, Vladimir Chijov said that the slow pace of improvement of Russia and the EU relationships comes as a result of the introspective phase the union is going through, which makes it a difficult partner. “Ask USA and China” about this, said the Russian diplomat, adding that the complicated arrangement for the distribution of competencies within EU is another reason for those difficulties.

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