Interfax, Russia
Dec 20 2012
Russia-EU summit to address conflicts in Transdniestria, Georgia,
Nagorno-Karabakh - source
BRUSSELS. Dec 20
The European Union counts on Russia's proactive role in looking for
solutions to conflicts both in former Soviet states and other
countries, a high-ranking European official told journalists on
condition of anonymity ahead of the Russia-EU summit in Brussels.
At the summit, the EU will reiterate the need to resolve the
Transdniestrian conflict because it is obvious that what is being done
there today is not enough, he said.
Following the parliamentary elections in Georgia, a chance has opened
up to improve relations between Tbilisi and Moscow and restore
stability in the Caucasus, the official said.
The EU welcomes the first contact between high-ranking officials of
Russia and Georgia, which took place last week, and calls on Russia to
continue this policy, he said.
But the EU also thinks that Georgia ought to remain a fully sovereign
country within its internationally recognized borders, the official
said.
The EU is troubled by the situation surrounding talks on
Nagorno-Karabakh and hopes that a solution could soon be found to this
conflict, he said.
Commenting on other conflicts around the world, the official
reiterated the EU's support for the efforts of UN and Arab League
peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, urging Russia to make the most
of all the levers available to it to help resolve this crisis.
At the summit, the sides will also reaffirm their commitments as part
of the peace process between the Palestinian National Authority and
Israel and will discuss the possibility of acting both through
negotiations and sanctions to make progress in the Iranian nuclear
issue, he said.
Russia and the EU will be able to bridge the gap between their
approaches to the Syrian conflict through discussions, the official
said.
Russia and the EU see eye to eye on the goals of this process but
remain split over the means to achieve these goals, he said.
Discussions should continue because it is just the way things are done
with friends, he added.
tm jv
Dec 20 2012
Russia-EU summit to address conflicts in Transdniestria, Georgia,
Nagorno-Karabakh - source
BRUSSELS. Dec 20
The European Union counts on Russia's proactive role in looking for
solutions to conflicts both in former Soviet states and other
countries, a high-ranking European official told journalists on
condition of anonymity ahead of the Russia-EU summit in Brussels.
At the summit, the EU will reiterate the need to resolve the
Transdniestrian conflict because it is obvious that what is being done
there today is not enough, he said.
Following the parliamentary elections in Georgia, a chance has opened
up to improve relations between Tbilisi and Moscow and restore
stability in the Caucasus, the official said.
The EU welcomes the first contact between high-ranking officials of
Russia and Georgia, which took place last week, and calls on Russia to
continue this policy, he said.
But the EU also thinks that Georgia ought to remain a fully sovereign
country within its internationally recognized borders, the official
said.
The EU is troubled by the situation surrounding talks on
Nagorno-Karabakh and hopes that a solution could soon be found to this
conflict, he said.
Commenting on other conflicts around the world, the official
reiterated the EU's support for the efforts of UN and Arab League
peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, urging Russia to make the most
of all the levers available to it to help resolve this crisis.
At the summit, the sides will also reaffirm their commitments as part
of the peace process between the Palestinian National Authority and
Israel and will discuss the possibility of acting both through
negotiations and sanctions to make progress in the Iranian nuclear
issue, he said.
Russia and the EU will be able to bridge the gap between their
approaches to the Syrian conflict through discussions, the official
said.
Russia and the EU see eye to eye on the goals of this process but
remain split over the means to achieve these goals, he said.
Discussions should continue because it is just the way things are done
with friends, he added.
tm jv