Lithuania considers blocking EU talks with Russia

Oct 30, 2008
TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS – A Lithuanian official speaking on the condition of anonymity has hinted that the country would block a French proposal to renew EU talks with Russia.

In an interview with the AFP news agency, the unnamed Lithuanian official said that he was “shocked” by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's apparent suggestion that talks could be unfrozen.

"We're absolutely shocked by the idea. The minister is basically suggesting the breach of a deal that his own president struck with Russia," the official told AFP.

"Pragmatic interests must not get the upper hand. As long as Russiadoesn't pull out and the observers aren't allowed into the separatist areas, there's no way we can talk about re-launching negotiations between Russiaand the EU,” the official said.

Lithuania has repeatedly noted it would not consent to the resumption of the EU-Russia talks until Russiafully withdraws its troops from Georgia's separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

At a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, Kouchner, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation European Union, did not rule out reopening of the EU-Russia talks during the Nov. 14 summit in Nice.

"I think I can tell you that the negotiations on the new partnership accord will be able to go ahead," Kouchner said after the meeting in St. Petersburg.

"As long as there are no surprises before the 13th, I think we can find a new timetable," he said.

Under the agreements in force prior to the Georgia-Russia conflict that broke out on Aug. 8, Russiahad a right to deploy approximately 500 peacekeepers in South Ossetia and up to 3,000 in Abkhazia. Up to 8,000 Russian troops are now reportedly present in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, although agreements allow presence of peacekeepers, not troops in the regions.

"According to our information, the number of Russian troops has risen," said the Lithuanianofficial. "What we have is an uncontrolled military build-up in the region. But we're being asked to go along with the occupation of an independent country."

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