Lavrov expects progress to be made before Russia-EU summit
MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has acknowledged difficulties in Russia-EU relations but said he hopes progress can be made before the Brussels summit.
"There is no doubt we have certain difficulties in our dialogue with the European Union. Primarily, this is about the attempts to politicize our advancement towards the visa-free travel regime," Lavrov said during the Government Hour at the Federation Council on Wednesday.
"There are also attempts to apply the Third Energy Package in an aggressive and retrospective way, which have an effect on the earlier commitment not to deteriorate conditions for business undertaken under the agreement on the protection of investment," he said.
"Yet we are looking into these problems and holding an intensive dialogue in all areas. We expect to make certain progress before the Russia-EU summit due in Brussels next month," the Russian foreign minister said.
