Contacts with Russia must continue despite cancellation of Rompuy's visit - source
BRUSSELS. March 19 (Interfax) - The anticipated visit of European Council President Herman van Rompuy to Moscow was just one of the options and it was never confirmed formally, a senior EU official told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.
There are various formats of communication with Russia, including other levels - for instance, the European External Action Service or member states, the official answered the question why van Rompuy had cancelled his trip to Moscow.
Van Rompuy spoke to the Russian president about ten days ago, he recalled.
The source supposed other contacts could take place within days. That will happen sooner or later, directly or in another informal form, he said, noted that the EU must speak to Russia and eventually resolve the Ukrainian problem at negotiations.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy asked to pay an urgent visit to Russia but his EU colleagues did not let him do so, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported earlier on Wednesday.
"European Council President Herman Van Rompuy requested an immediate visit to Russia on March 17 but the European Council President was not allowed to come to Moscow. His own colleagues did not let him do so. Contending why he should learn the truth once the decision has been made," the ministry said in a commentary posted on Wednesday.
"They have a new blacklist now, that of EU officials prohibited visiting Russia. Ironically, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy tops this list," the ministry said.
The purpose of the canceled visit of Herman Van Rompuy to Russia "was to hear firsthand the Russian opinion about the crisis inside and surrounding Ukraine and ways out of the deteriorating situation ahead of the EU summit due in the end of this week," the commentary said.