EU EXPANSION TALKS TO FINISH BY APRIL 23, EXPECTS RUSSIAN TRADE MINISTER
BRUSSELS, MARCH 26, RIA NOVOSTI - Talks on issues related to European Union expansion will finish by April 23, expects German Gref, Russia's Minister of Economic Development and Trade. The negotiators fully share opinions of EU expansion, and have coordinated stances on 90 per cent of points on the agenda, he said to a news conference in Brussels. There is a shared understanding on how to settle the rest of the problems, and respective political concepts. Only one problem demands practical solution-freight transits via the Kaliningrad Region, Russia's Baltic exclave.
Optimistic about the situation, Mr. Gref poetically described it as Mayday sky with only tiny clouds in it, soon to dispel.
The talks are underway in Moscow within more extensive negotiations of Romano Prodi, European Commission President, and Pascal Lamy, EU Commissioner for Trade, with Russian government spokesmen.
Concerning the Kaliningrad issue, German Gref remarked:
"The situation threatens exorbitant transit fares to make cargo shipments from the exclave to Russia and the other way round ruinous. We see the EU understands our concern, and we hope our Lithuanian neighbours will see our point." The negotiators have provided every condition to come to an accord on the entire agenda before May 1, when new members are joining the European Union.
Mr. Gref thinks the media are exaggerating Russia-EU differences. "To settle it all between ourselves is the only thing to do. We have been saying so from the start," he said.
The European Union and Russia are expected to spread their partnerly cooperation agreement on the ten new EU countries. Will it hit the Russian budget? a reporter asked the minister.
"We shall not lose anything-or our losses will find compensation to reduce them to nought," he replied.
Mr. Gref said he was glad to see his country and the European Union successfully solving entangled problems. Judging by that, they have every chance to come to future understandings on other aspects of their contacts, he added.
