Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-05-14-Speech-3-161"
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"en.20030514.8.3-161"2
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".
Mr President, allow me a few supplementary observations on issues which have been touched on during the debate because, for the rest, both my first intervention and the Commission intervention gave a great many replies to a series of issues.
We are, of course, interested in having, as with every other country, a successful summit. The precise objective of the meetings being held is to promote the objectives which we too have in accordance with the ambitions, values and principles that we want to promote. We know that these procedures are often time-consuming and laborious. I know of no procedure which quickly results in changes, in solutions to problems which have dragged on.
I should like to refer to Kaliningrad. The solution for Kaliningrad is progressing to timetable and I think that it is progressing satisfactorily. The ratification by the duma of the border agreement with Lithuania will have taken place by 30 June, according to the commitments entered into. And we expect the same for the readmission agreement between Russia and Lithuania.
Similarly, I should like to say that provision has been made for a special TACIS programme on Kaliningrad and our precise objective is for the summit to give the order to draw up a strategy jointly with Russia, so that there is integrated development of this Russian area.
As far as the Northern Dimension is concerned, we are currently preparing the new action plan and the Commission is preparing a first draft which we shall subsequently process within the framework of the Council. We consider that the Northern Dimension must continue to be an important development tool in our relations with Russia. The signature of the MNΕPR agreement will release funds for protection against nuclear dangers in north-west Russia, funds which have been amassed precisely within the framework of the Northern Dimension.
I should like to point out that huge changes have been made as regards Russia over the last thirteen years. Traditional stereotypes have been overturned, new premises have been created, Russia's relations with the European Union, with ΝΑΤΟ, with the United States, have changed radically and this is creating new situations, of which each Member State and the European Union as a whole are weighing the importance and deciding to see how to proceed and what momentum to give.
Within these frameworks, one needs to take account of the reports on foreign policy, security and defence issues, but I should like to point out that one needs to be very, very careful here. These are not issues that can proceed quickly. They need a long-term perspective and strategy and a method that does not create confrontations and contradictory situations on basic strategic choices by the European Union and Europe as a whole. We therefore welcome the possibilities opening up and are proceeding with the methods and the degrees of freedom that we judge are opening up on each occasion and allowing us closer forms of cooperation."@en1
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