ID :
187397
Thu, 06/09/2011 - 08:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/187397
The shortlink copeid
RF-EU basic agreement depends on EU readiness Prikhodko
MOSCOW, June 9 (Itar-Tass) -- The time of possible signing of the new
basic agreement between Russia and the EU is not known yet.
"This depends fully on readiness of the EU," Russia's Presidential
Aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters. This topic will be a key issue of
the Russia-EU summit in Nizhny Novgorod on June 9-10.
"We believe that the work pace is not sufficient for the basic
agreement, this work may be done quicker," he said.
Reporters wanted to learn if the document may be expected to be inked
over the current year.
"I do not know," was the reply.
"I did say that the agreement may be signed over this year, but for
that it would be necessary that our counterparts have political will," he
explained. "Unfortunately, the talks on the new basic agreement were
delayed by the EU's persistent attempts to incorporate in the text most
detailed texts on trade and investment cooperation."
"The work on the agreement may become easier after success of the 18
year marathon on Russia's joining the WTO," he continued.
He told reporters that in Brussels in December of 2010, at the
Russia-EU summit, the sides agreed to "apply every effort to agree on
terms of Russia's membership in the WTO by July 2011."
"System advantages and commercial profit for economic operators like
Russia, and for the EU as well, from our membership cannot be compared
with the outstanding technical issues," he stressed.
The base of relations between the EU and Russia is the Agreement on
partnership and cooperation, which was inked by heads of the states and
governments in June 1994, and which came into force in December 1997. The
provisions of the document cover development of political dialogue, trade,
business and investments, payments and capital, competition, protection of
intellectual, industrial and commercial property, as well as cooperation
in fighting illegal activities. The validity period of the agreement
expired on December 1, 2007. Despite the option to prolong automatically
the term for one year, the sides agreed a new document should be drafted.
From July 2008 talks interrupted several times. By now, there has been 13
rounds /the last one - in February of 2011/.
basic agreement between Russia and the EU is not known yet.
"This depends fully on readiness of the EU," Russia's Presidential
Aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters. This topic will be a key issue of
the Russia-EU summit in Nizhny Novgorod on June 9-10.
"We believe that the work pace is not sufficient for the basic
agreement, this work may be done quicker," he said.
Reporters wanted to learn if the document may be expected to be inked
over the current year.
"I do not know," was the reply.
"I did say that the agreement may be signed over this year, but for
that it would be necessary that our counterparts have political will," he
explained. "Unfortunately, the talks on the new basic agreement were
delayed by the EU's persistent attempts to incorporate in the text most
detailed texts on trade and investment cooperation."
"The work on the agreement may become easier after success of the 18
year marathon on Russia's joining the WTO," he continued.
He told reporters that in Brussels in December of 2010, at the
Russia-EU summit, the sides agreed to "apply every effort to agree on
terms of Russia's membership in the WTO by July 2011."
"System advantages and commercial profit for economic operators like
Russia, and for the EU as well, from our membership cannot be compared
with the outstanding technical issues," he stressed.
The base of relations between the EU and Russia is the Agreement on
partnership and cooperation, which was inked by heads of the states and
governments in June 1994, and which came into force in December 1997. The
provisions of the document cover development of political dialogue, trade,
business and investments, payments and capital, competition, protection of
intellectual, industrial and commercial property, as well as cooperation
in fighting illegal activities. The validity period of the agreement
expired on December 1, 2007. Despite the option to prolong automatically
the term for one year, the sides agreed a new document should be drafted.
From July 2008 talks interrupted several times. By now, there has been 13
rounds /the last one - in February of 2011/.
