Artificial linkage of WTO, 'vegetable issue' unacceptable - Chizhov
MOSCOW. June 22 (Interfax) - Russia's EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov has expressed surprise over European Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht's statement that the climate in the Russia-EU talks on the World Trade Organization is not quite favorable for a successful completion of the talks.
De Gucht made his statement in connection with the ban on EU vegetable exports to Russia.
"Attempts to exert public pressure do not carry anything positive. Steps to artificially link these two issues are unacceptable, while statements of this kind made on the day when talks are on in Moscow to settle the vegetable imports issue are untimely," Chizhov told Interfax.
"I personally cannot understand whether Mr. De Gucht's personal position was involved, or the European Union's position has changed. The assurances regularly arriving from other EU agencies confirm Russia's early accession to this organization," he said.
