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Top EU foreign policy officials to hold security talks in Moscow

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A senior EU foreign policy delegation will hold talks on European security issues in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - A senior EU foreign policy delegation will hold talks on European security issues in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The delegation includes the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, and Sweden, which takes over the presidency on June 1, as well as EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Russia's EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov said the agenda for the talks would include discussions on "issues of European security, including the initiative by President Dmitry Medvedev on setting up a new structure of European security and signing a corresponding agreement."

President Medvedev put forward his proposals for a new legally binding European security pact in June, and suggested the idea could be discussed at a European summit.

The European Union is currently reviewing its 2003 regional security strategy and is showing interest in the Russian proposal, Chizhov said, adding that "certain details need to be discussed."

Chizhov also said the talks would focus on the situation in the Caucasus in the wake of Russia's five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia last August.

The diplomats are also scheduled to discuss anti-piracy efforts in Somalia, where over 120 ships were attacked in 2008. In October, Russia dispatched a frigate from the Baltic Fleet, the Neustrashimy (Fearless), to escort commercial vessels in the region following a surge in seizures.

Meetings between Russia's foreign minister and the EU troika are held twice a year.

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