EU, Russia talk energy, democracy before G8

The European Union (EU) voiced concerns over energy security and Russian democracy with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday in a summit that set the stage for a meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) nations in July.

Putin, who chairs the G8 group of industrialized countries for the first time, has placed energy security at the heart of the agenda for the G8 meeting in St Petersburg, hoping to use the topic to boost Russia's international profile.

But brief disruptions of gas supplies to Europe in January due to Moscow's pricing row with its neighbour Ukraine dismayed many Europeans. Russian gas giant Gazprom supplies a quarter of Europe's gas needs.

"We believe we can send from this summit good, positive, constructive messages regarding energy (and) about the need for a transparent and reciprocal co-operation in terms of energy," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.

The EU is pressing Moscow to open up access to gas pipelines to European companies, while Moscow wants Gazprom to have expansion access in Europe's downstream distribution market.

"Russia sees the European Union as its key international partner," Putin said, adding construction of the north European pipeline was one example of its commitment to ensure the energy security of the continent.

US Vice President Dick Cheney angered Russian officials earlier this month by calling on Moscow to return to the path of democratic reform and accused its leaders of using oil and gas as tools of "intimidation and blackmail" against neighbours.

Kremlin officials say they are trying to bring order after the chaos of the first post-Soviet decade.

However, many in the Kremlin see Gazprom as a new instrument for boosting Russia's geopolitical influence after the loss of prestige following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

US critics have questioned whether Russia should be hosting the G8 summit at all, while EU-Russia tensions over energy have eased in recent days.

"It would be very difficult to imagine the full success of the St Petersburg G8 summit without positive results now in Sochi," Barroso said on the plane to the resort town.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told a Russian newspaper EU officials did not want to pick a fight with Moscow and were not in an "anti-Russian mood."

Talks are also likely to include Iran's nuclear ambitions and Russia's relations with neighbours in eastern Europe.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will also attend the meeting.

Barroso and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel dined with Putin on Wednesday and watched a folklore show complete with dancers and a 60-strong chorus, Barroso's spokeswoman said.

Deals will be signed on simplifying visa rules and making the deportation of illegal immigrants easier. The sides will also discuss how to replace a document that makes up the cornerstone of EU-Russia relations, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which expires in 2007.

Source: China Daily