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EU seeks bigger role in resolution of problems in Caucasus
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 20, 2004 Monday 1:57 PM Eastern Time
HAMBURG, December 20 -- The European Union has offered to play a bigger
role in the resolution of social and economic problems in the Caucasus.
Given the attention the European Union pays to this issue, Germany
proposed "to broaden the economic participation of EU countries
in the normalisation of economic and social life in the Caucasus,
and particularly in the Chechen Republic", a member of the Russian
delegation told Itar-Tass on Monday.
In a meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Putin said he
had received such proposals and taken them "seriously".
The official said, "The Russian side carefully studies all proposals,
the implementation of which could help strengthen stability in the
Caucasus."
"The development of economic cooperation in this respect is regarded
by Russia as a basic element that can eventually have a positive effect
on the resolution of conflicts in the region," the official said.
"We think that the initiation and discussion of concrete proposals
concerning broader economic interaction will be useful," he added.
Experts in the Russian delegation believe that this initiative concerns
not only Russia's Caucasian regions, but also Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Georgia.
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 20, 2004 Monday 1:57 PM Eastern Time
HAMBURG, December 20 -- The European Union has offered to play a bigger
role in the resolution of social and economic problems in the Caucasus.
Given the attention the European Union pays to this issue, Germany
proposed "to broaden the economic participation of EU countries
in the normalisation of economic and social life in the Caucasus,
and particularly in the Chechen Republic", a member of the Russian
delegation told Itar-Tass on Monday.
In a meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Putin said he
had received such proposals and taken them "seriously".
The official said, "The Russian side carefully studies all proposals,
the implementation of which could help strengthen stability in the
Caucasus."
"The development of economic cooperation in this respect is regarded
by Russia as a basic element that can eventually have a positive effect
on the resolution of conflicts in the region," the official said.
"We think that the initiation and discussion of concrete proposals
concerning broader economic interaction will be useful," he added.
Experts in the Russian delegation believe that this initiative concerns
not only Russia's Caucasian regions, but also Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Georgia.