Crisis in Russia-EU relations doesn't meet their interests - prominent Russian Federation Council member
MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - The relationship between the European Union and Russia is in a serious crisis now, which does not meet their interests, says Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the Russian Federation Council international affairs committee.
"The issue of an inter-parliamentary dimension is more important today than it has ever been. An inter-parliamentary dialogue should contribute a lot to overcoming the deadlock in which our relations are now. It should be noted that we are not to blame for the fact that they are in a deadlock," Kosachyov said at a meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Vygaudas Usackas on Friday.
Russia is not asking anyone to revise the sanctions imposed on it, "and the sanctions imposed because of the situation in Ukraine have not affected the situation in this country in any way, not to mention that they haven't affected Russia's position on Ukraine," he said.
"Our position is that they [the sanctions] should be lifted by those who applied them against our country. We are sure that, sooner or later, the situation will be brought back onto a reasonable track and will meet the interests of the people in Russia and the European Union," he said.
Trade turnover between Russia and the EU has declined sharply after the sanctions were introduced: "trade turnover between Russia and the EU countries declined by 7.3% in 11 months of last year. Imports [to Russia from the EU] declined by more than 10%."
At the same time, Russia's trade with the U.S. grew in the same period by 7.5%, with Egypt by 100%, and with New Zealand by 50%, he said.
"Exports of agricultural products to Russia from Serbia alone grew to 300 million euro last year and are expected to increase to 500 million euro this year," he said.