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#7 - RW 12-17-04 - RW Home
Pravda.Ru
www.pravda.ru
December 16, 2004
Russia welcomes Ukraine's EU membership
Ukraine's incorporation into the European Union to be a positive factor
Ukraine's incorporation into the EU would be a more positive factor than NATO
expansion, Russia President Vladimir Putin said at a press-conference after the
talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in the Kremlin.
Vladimir Putin told Spanish journalists that if Ukraine is accepted to the EU,
as it desires, Russia will be happy. "Indeed, Russia and Ukraine have close
relations in economy and cooperate in the industrial sphere. So, incorporation
of the Ukrainian economy into the EU economy is likely to have a positive result
for Russia as well," Vladimir Putin said.
The Russian president emphasized that probable incorporation of Ukraine into
the European Union "does not directly concern Russia; while the Russian side has
much to say on the issue." Vladimir Putin added that Russia had always been
negative towards NATO expansion, as it would not neutralize present-day menaces.
At the same time, Russia always welcomes EU enlargement.
Russia's membership in the European Union is not likely to happen within the
nearest ten years that is why Russia has preferred other ways to develop
international relations. First of all, Russia is making up a unified economic
area with former Soviet republics (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan).
Second, Russia is building a common economic area with the EU.
The Russian president believes that the common economic area with the
European Union is profitable for both sides, which in its turn will improve
Russia's economic ties with Europe. That is why incorporation of new members
into the European Union, namely Ukraine, will not spoil these plans but even
promote them, Vladimir Putin thinks.
The Spanish prime minister said that the European Union had not yet included
admission of new members into the agenda. Rodriguez Zapatero said: "The European
Union is now consolidating after enlargement and working on adoption of a new
constitution. Today, the EU is following a friendly policy towards its neighbors
in the east and in the south."
Vladimir Putin admitted that EU enlargement causes several problems that
require solution. Both sides, Russia and the EU, find ways for solution of the
problems, the Russian president added.
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