Moscow plans to finish EU enlargement talks by May 1, says diplomat

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Moscow plans to finish EU enlargement talks by May 1, says diplomat

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Russia said Tuesday that it was planning to complete talks with the European Union (EU) on the bloc's enlargement by May 1, when 10 countries join the current 15-countries organization, Interfax news agency reported, citing a Russian diplomatic source.

"We are counting on concluding this work exactly on time, before May 1, 2004 when 10 new members join the European Union," Interfax quoted the unnamed Russian diplomat as saying.

He was commenting on the warning made by the foreign ministers of the EU on Monday on "a serious impact on EU-Russian relations" if Russia fails to extend in time the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the EU to 10 acceding member states after the EU enlargement on May 1.

"Moscow is engaged in negotiations on all aspects of EU enlargement and the impact it will have on Russia," the official said.

He also noted that that Russia was "very surprised at the fuss surrounding a supposed freeze in Russian-EU relations."

Recently Russia and the EU have been at row with the extension of the PCA, signed between them in June 1994 and took effect on December 1, 1999. The agreement covers practically every aspect of cooperation between the two parties, including trade, science and technology and education.

Due to political and economic concerns, Russia has so far refused to extend the PCA to the 10 acceding EU members, mostly Russia's neighbors and major trade partners, demanding compensation for trade-related losses it says it will suffer.

However, the EU rejected Russia's move to link the talks on remedies and with EU's enlargement.

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