YAKOVENKO: The Madrid talks of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov are aimed at maintaining positive dynamics of bilateral cooperation and constructive political dialogue, and at fostering efficient partnership between Russia and Spain, which has been successfully developing in the past few years.

The Russian side hails Spain's constructive position on cooperation between the EU and Russia. It proceeds from the assumption that close trustful relations between the leadership of the two countries will enable them to move closer towards intensive practical cooperation and further development of strategic partnership between Russia and the EU during Spain's presidency in the organisation.

High on the agenda of the negotiations will be jointly determining milestones of cooperation for the next six months, including in the light of another meeting between the Russian and the EU leaders due in May, 2002.

Crucially important at this point is consistent implementation of the decisions of the Russia-EU summit in Brussels /October 3, 2001/. They refer to combating international terrorism, strengthening dialogue and cooperation in political and security issues, developing a concept of a common economic space in Europe and stepping up energy collaboration.

We view the European Union as an important pole of the multi-polar world order. We are interested in deepening the Russia-EU dialogue on political and security issues as a significant part of efforts to create a single European security space.

QUESTION: Which issues pertaining to Russia-EU relations will be on top of the agenda in Madrid?

YAKOVENKO: The meeting in Madrid will highlight pressing international issues - Afghanistan, the Balkans, the Middle East and South Asia - the ones for which Russia-EU's harmonised efforts are of particular importance.

The Russian side intends to continue constructive discussion of economic cooperation with the European Union. Multi-faceted partnership in this area is expected to stimulate consistent economic development on the European continent and avert any new delimitation within Europe.

The agenda of the talks also features the launch of the Russia-EU Joint High-Level Working Group's efforts to blueprint the concept of a common economic space in Europe - something which was decided at the Russia-EU summit in Moscow in May 2001.

The energy dialogue between Russia and the EU is also coming to the practical stage. The Special High-Level Committee on Energy Cooperation is to shortly outline short-term strategic measures aimed at translating Russia-EU energy cooperation into practice and bolstering energy security of Europe.

Furthermore, prominent on the agenda will be the consequences that EU expansion will have for Russia. We will seek to take advantage of the positive aspects of this process and neutralise its negative effects. We expect the EU to take our aforementioned concerns into account, too.

The live support system of the Kalinigrad region is an especially delicate issue, for after Poland and Lithuania join the European Union, this part of the country will turn into Russia's semi-enclave within the EU. In this connection, we attach particular importance to the practical solution of the problems dealing with the Kaliningrad region's life support system, including visa, transit, energy supplies, fishing and other issues.

We rely upon the constructive position of our major trade and economic partner, the EU, in accelerating the negotiations on Russia's accession to the WTO.

We share the interest in stronger cooperation in the law-enforcement realm, proceeding from a joint plan of combating organised crime. This cooperation is to be further enhanced in view of the intensified bilateral efforts in the fight against international terrorism.

QUESTION: How much attention will be paid to Russo-Spanish relations at the talks in Madrid?

YAKOVENKO: Along the lines of bilateral contacts, the talks will spotlight the implementation of the agreements reached during the visit by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar to Moscow /May 2001/ and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's trip to Madrid /November 2001/. The sides will also have to coordinate the busy schedule of bilateral contacts projected for this year. Intensification of trade, economic and investment cooperation, in particular, the conversion of the former USSR's debt to Spain, considering the achieved mutual understanding between the sides, will be at the heart of the talks. In addition, under discussion will be the streamlining and expansion of the contractual legal base, as well as working out of a new agreement on mutual protection and encouragement of investments.

The Russian Foreign Minister and his Spanish counterpart Josep Pique will discuss fostering bilateral cooperation in combating organised crime and terrorism in the context of the joint Russo-Spanish statement on terrorism of November 15, 2001. In particular, they will consider the future activities of a respective working group.


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