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SECURITY ROAD MAP CAN BE ALIGNED BY RUSSIA-EU SUMMIT

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, February 28 (RIA Novosti) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry believes there is a real possibility of aligning the Russia-EU security Road Map by the time the two sides will come together at the next summit, Official Spokesman for the Ministry Alexander Yakovenko told RIA Novosti.

"The results of the latest consultations held in Brussels on February 18 suggest that we could fully align the Road Map for the [security common] space by the forthcoming summit, provided constructive approach on the EU side," he said.

According to Mr. Yakovenko, the common security space would be shaped "within the framework of available mechanisms, in full compliance with international law and on the basis of the UN Charter."

According to the spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow won't agree to "EU efforts to focus the Road Map exclusively on the post-Soviet territory."

"We do not say we are the only player in this field; we are ready to further cooperate with the EU, provided that Russia's long-term material interests in these regions are taken into account. We would consider it important to maintain support for post-Soviet stronger regional cooperation and integration processes, to which Russia is a party, which could send a message that Russia and the EU are not rivals in this territory, but seek to strengthen stability and security together," Mr. Yakovenko underscored.

According to him, Russia and the EU "have spheres of mutual interests where we could cooperate: regional conflict management, WMD/missile nonproliferation, and war on international terrorism."

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry official appreciated the work being done to shape the fourth, humanitarian/educational/cultural EU-Russia common space.

"It is here that we see the greatest progress. The relevant Road Map is all but aligned - Russian negotiators will soon submit their proposals on the final version of the document," Mr. Yakovenko said.