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Putin says won't ratify EU energy deal - source

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President Vladimir Putin said Friday Russia will not ratify an energy charter with the EU at a summit in Finland, reaffirming Moscow's long-standing position, a source in the Russian delegation said.
HELSINKI, November 24 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin said at a summit in Finland that Russia will not ratify an energy charter with the EU, reaffirming Moscow's long-standing position, a source in the Russian delegation said.

"We back the main principles of the charter and are prepared to discuss them when considering their possible inclusion into the basic partnership agreement," the source said on the sidelines of the Russia-European Union summit underway in Helsinki.

The Energy Charter has become the focus of the summit following Poland's veto of talks on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the 25-member alliance and Russia, which were to be launched in Helsinki.

Poland demanded this week that Russia ratify the Energy Charter and lift its embargo on Polish meat and vegetable exports before embarking on talks on the new PCA, as the current pact expires in 2007.

Although the former Communist-bloc country reportedly agreed to drop charter-related demands later, it is still resolved to have the Russian meat embargo, which it calls political, lifted. Russia imposed the ban on Polish meat last year after uncovering counterfeit veterinary certificates.

Revealing its disappointment with the amended summit agenda, Moscow warned this week it could also ban agricultural imports from the EU as of 2007 over concerns about livestock diseases in Romania and Bulgaria, which will become full-fledged EU members in early 2007.

The Energy Charter, signed but not ratified by Moscow, is a point of contention between the EU and Russia, which seek import and export guarantees respectively.

Europe has called on Russia to ratify the deal, which would force it to open up its pipelines and deposits to European companies. But Moscow says the charter is skewed in favor of energy importers and needs to be amended.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow has no intention of ratifying the charter, because it is flawed.

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