EU putting a stop to Lithuanian-Russian blocks

VILNIUS- European nations tried Thursday to convince Lithuaniato lift its ban on talks with Moscowon a key EU-Russia partnership agreement, diplomats said.

However, news agencies reported that no consensus has beenfound because Lithuaniastuck to demands that any mandate of the European Commission (EC) fornegotiations with Russiainclude assurances on energy supplies, cooperation over a missing businessmanand movement by Russiaon frozen conflicts in former Soviet republics.

EU foreign ministers will meet next Tuesday in Luxembourg to agree on negotiations regardingthe stance for a new "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" with Moscow.

The wide-ranging pact will cover the key issue of Russia's massive energy supplies for Europe.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas said earlier this week that Lithuania would like for Russia to beincluded into closer cooperation with the EU, however, not at the expense of Lithuania's interests.

Vaitiekunas noted that Lithuaniais aiming for EU's interior policy on issues of energy to be stated in onevoice, constructively and based on existing juridical norms. He added that Lithuania'sinterest of solving "frozen conflicts" should also not be forgotten.

"We don't want to block the talks," an unnamed Lithuanian diplomat told AFP.

He also noted that Lithuania willmake all efforts towards an agreement to present the EC with a mandate fortalks with Moscowbefore next week's meeting of EU foreign ministers.

On the other hand, another Lithuanian diplomat quoted by Reuters asserted that a new proposal doesn't yet mean a deal hasbeen made.

"There is no deal, negotiations have just started...There may be pressure on us at the foreign ministers meeting but we will standfirm," an unnamed Lithuaniandiplomat said, adding Vilnius wanted firmer assurances than those suggested by current EU presidencyof Slovenia.

Diplomats said the new EU presidency proposals sought tomeet Lithuanian demands forassurances on the dormant-since-2006 Druzhba pipeline and on judicialcooperation.