February 21, 2005 - 19:37 AMT
EU POSITION: "WE ARE INTERESTED IN SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS ON POST-SOVIET TERRITORY"
The European Union is interested in the settlement of conflicts on the post-soviet territories, head of the EU Commission's representation in Russia, Ambassador Marco Franco said, Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. In his words, Russia is a party interested in strategic partnership and EU agrees with such position. "At the same time when speaking of common neighborhood we first of all mean the settlement of conflicts available on the territories bordering both with the EU states and Russia. These are unsettled conflicts in Pridnestrovye, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh", he noted. The EU position is as follows: "we are interested in settlement of these conflicts for securing stability at our borders". Russia thinks that certain international organizations and structures are already dealing with the settlement of these conflicts and that EU's participation will complicate this process. However the EU holds the opinion that every organization can have its place.