Discussions centered on the proposals put forward recently by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in the messages to the leaders of the member states of the EU, the presidents of Lithuania and Poland and the president of the Commission of the European Communities with respect to finding mutually acceptable solutions of the problems arising, primarily those connected with the ensuring of a simplified regime for the railway and motor transit of Russian citizens and goods from the main territory of Russia to the Kaliningrad oblast and back across the territory of Lithuania as a state future member of the EU.

The Russian side emphasized the substantial constructive potential of the initiative by President Putin for reaching in the long term an agreement on a mutual visa-free regime for trips of citizens of the Russian Federation and the European Union and keeping an unhindered transit regime for Russian citizens and goods to and from the Kaliningrad oblast during the transitional period. In the Russian side's view, the draft Memorandum of Intentions, as transmitted by Russia to Brussels and the capitals of the member states of the EU with regard to mutual ensuring of the freedom of movement of citizens, could provide the basis for the elaboration of compromise solutions.

The delegation of the European Union (it consisted of the representatives of the European Council and Commission) said that Russia's proposals had been received with interest and attention in the governing bodies of the EU and the capitals of the member states. There had begun the appropriate thorough analysis, the results of which would be reported later. A reply was being prepared to the message of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and it would be in a positive spirit. Stating the progress in the rapprochement of the sides' positions, the leader of the European Union delegation expressed the willingness of the EU to show flexibility, a constructive approach and the will to find compromises in tackling the key issues of life support for the Kaliningrad oblast.

It has been agreed that during the time left before the Russia-EU summit in Copenhagen (the middle of this November), the sides will continue and intensify work within the framework of the existing consultation mechanisms in order to reach mutually acceptable solutions and their possible recording in an appropriate document of the summit. The next round of consultations is to be held in Brussels.


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© Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.