12/14/2007

Reports: Russia, Poland reach agreement on meat exports

Russia and Poland have resolved a dispute over Polish meat exports that had blocked an EU-Russia partnership deal, Russia's Agriculture Minister said Wednesday.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw might soon lift its veto on the start of talks on an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation between Russia and the EU.

Russia has barred meat from Poland since late 2005, citing health concerns, and the ban had led to Poland to block talks with Russia on a new deal.

"We have full understanding and agreement on the resumption of shipments," Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said in televised comments after he met with Polish counterpart Marek Sawicki.

"The restrictions on shipments will be lifted after the signing of a memorandum next week," the Interfax news agency quoted Gordeyev as saying.

Poland's Foreign Ministry issued a more cautious statement but confirmed plans for a memorandum. Tusk was upbeat.

"I appreciate the efforts the Russians have made in the Moscow meeting because they represent a good hope that Warsaw and Moscow can rebuild the best of relations," Tusk told reporters in Paris after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I can tell you that it goes in the right direction, and I'm not ruling out that we could soon lift our veto," he said.

The 2005 ban coincided with deepening political tensions between Russia and Poland. But after Tusk became Polish prime minister last month, ousting the conservative Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Russian officials hinted the meat dispute could be resolved quickly.
Source:iht.com



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