Poland expressed its opposition on Monday to the launch of negotiations on a new EU-Russia agreement on partnership and cooperation, the PAP news agency reported.

"Poland cannot agree to the situation where EU-Russian agreements pass over our country," Polish President Lech Kaczynski said.

Poland wants good relations with Russia, but these "have to be the relations of some benefit to Poland." the PAP news agency quoted Kaczynski as saying.

He cited Russia's ban on meat imports from Poland and the construction of the Baltic gas pipeline as being against Poland's interests.

"Poland had no other choice," he added.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said, "We all appealed to Poland today to really lift their blockage."

She added she expected the matter to be addressed by EU ambassadors due to meet on Wednesday.

The current agreement on partnership and cooperation between Russia and the EU became effective since 1997, and will expire next year. The new pact will focus on areas such as energy, trade, investment and human rights.

Source: Xinhua