Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-11-20-Speech-3-215"
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"en.20021120.5.3-215"2
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"Mr President, the tenth EU–Russia Summit took place in Brussels on 11 November with satisfactory results.
By way of conclusion, I am able to call the summit a success, with a constructive dialogue in all fields. The cooperation between the EU and Russia has entered a new phase in which no topic for discussion is ruled out; and that will be to the advantage of both parties.
The meeting reflected the intensity and depth of the cooperation between the EU and Russia. It showed that this cooperation is now entering a new phase; the framework for the strategic partnership has been laid down, and now it remains to flesh it out with practical actions.
As you know, there was a major problem, which has been discussed many times in Parliament, that is, Kaliningrad. Consensus was reached on a joint declaration regarding transit between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia. The agreement represents a balance between the interests of the candidate countries, Russia and the EU. The fact that a solution could be found to the problem confirms the strength of the cooperation between the EU and Russia; and at the same time the EU asserted that it attaches the utmost importance to respect for the sovereignty of the candidate countries and effective border controls on the EU’s external borders. We stood firm on the principles that Lithuania is a sovereign country and that it has as much right to join cooperation on Schengen as all the other candidate countries. This is something that was respected, even by President Putin. Consensus was reached, and I can add that President Adamkus of Lithuania, too, accepted the agreement which was entered into.
Consensus was also reached on a joint declaration on the fight against terrorism. This was a key point for both parties. The summit condemned terrorism in all its forms. The declaration and the accompanying cooperation plan are indications that cooperation between the EU and Russia on this point is moving on from an exchange of information to practical cooperation.
Lastly, consensus was reached on a declaration on the situation in the Middle East, which confirms the existing consensus between the EU and Russia on this matter.
There was a frank debate on the situation in Chechnya. The parties were agreed that the conflict cannot simply be regarded and treated as a problem of terrorism and that a political solution is the only way to lasting peace, stability and development in the area. I know that Commissioner Patten has already spoken of the extraordinarily open debate which took place.
The European Union will monitor developments closely. Both sides must respect human rights, and the EU must insist that those who do not are brought to justice. The EU will also demand that the international community be given the opportunity to provide the urgently needed humanitarian aid to Chechnya.
Regional conflicts, particularly the one in Moldova, were also discussed. It is important to maintain that there are no geographical restrictions on the scope of the political dialogue between the EU and Russia.
The European Union stressed the need for progress on the economic and legal reforms in Russia in order to ensure Russian membership of the WTO. In addition, the need for Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and the Energy Charter was emphasised."@en1
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