Our informant resolutely disproved allegations of a crisis raging between Russia and the European Union, though he acknowledged certain problems.
Russia inquired the EU back in 1999 about prospective economic impact of European Union expansion-but the Union did not pay due attention to Russia's alarm till quite recently. Be that as it may, current concerns have to be dealt with. In particular, the Parties have to determine, before May 1, whether an acting EU-Russia partnership and cooperation agreement ought to concern new EU members, said the interviewee.
Russia wants the agreement to spread on all prospective EU countries-but with available problems settled, he stressed.
Russia favours related efforts to proceed on a parallel arrangement.
Negotiations are underway on many issues, Russian concerns included, and certain progress has been made, added the diplomat.
