International   

Rift in Europe over Russia

Ian Traynor and Luke Harding

Ian Traynor and

Luke Harding

Brussels/Moscow: European leaders were locked in a bitter dispute over policy towards Russia on Monday, just days before a crucial E.U.-Russia summit that threatens to turn into an acrimonious flop.

Amid the worst hostility between Moscow and the West for years, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin insisting there was ``no new cold war'' and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier prepared to rush to see Mr. Putin in a last-gasp attempt to salvage this weekend's summit.

A meeting of E.U. Foreign Ministers saw an ``old-new Europe'' divide opening up over policy towards Moscow. The German and Polish Foreign Ministers traded barbs, with the east Europeans accusing Germany and western Europe of being too soft on Mr. Putin.

Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania were highly critical of the German preparations for the summit, demanding a much tougher and concerted European line towards what they feel to be the new Russian menace. Russia has recently been battling with Estonia over Second World War monuments and war graves and has an embargo on Polish meat imports, allegedly on health grounds; and to Germany's distress, Poland is vetoing the start of E.U. negotiations with Russia on a new strategic partnership pact. The Russians are also incensed over U.S. plans to site parts of their missile defence programme in Poland and the Czech Republic.

``It's obvious that one or other might ask is this the right time for an E.U.-Russia summit,'' said Mr. Steinmeier on Monday night. ``It will be a difficult summit.''

Germany, which is chairing the E.U., had planned that this weekend's meeting in Samara on the Volga would see the launch of a new European strategy towards Russia. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Peshawar blast claims 25 lives
Colombo ire over channel
Plea seeks removal of Musharraf
Abe regime moves to amend pacifist Constitution
Angry exchanges at Diana's inquest hearing
Rift in Europe over Russia
Two judges to monitor probe into court official's murder
Church split healed
Sarkozy woos socialists for Cabinet jobs
To find the gender at six weeks
Fitness now at the workplace
Blood pressure toll
Gaza clashes intensify
Pleads guilty
Fiji to extend emergency
U.S. Senators allege misuse of H-1B visas

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu