Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-05-31

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Progress with EU-Russia relations the focus of St.Petersburg summit on

[01] Progress with EU-Russia relations the focus of St.Petersburg summit on Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG (ANA - V. Mourtis) -- The entire breadth of EU-Russia relations will be the key agenda point at the EU-Russia Summit here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Greek Prime Minister and European Council president-in-office Costas Simitis.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Simitis said the Greek presidency had decided to advance efforts to upgrade bilateral EU-Russia relations, a decision shared by all European partners.

Simitis added there were three areas in which efforts for EU-Russia cooperation had not been successful: Political dialogue on foreign policy and security and defence policy, economic cooperation, and cooperation in justice and home affairs, and that now a fourth area was added for cooperation in research, technology and culture.

Energy policy issues will also be reviewed, since, as the Greek premier said, the EU was in search of additional energy suppliers and to that end it would increase investments in Russia for development of energy resources in a long range, which would ensure energy sources as well as stable prices.

Asked about the ''soft points'' that were the cause of failure in progress with EU-Russia relations, Simits said discussions in the past had been taking place on a general level, adding that the agreements should be more specific, that better coordination was required and meetings should not be restricted to a foreign ministers level.

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