RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES EUROPEAN SECURITY IN STOCKHOLM








STOCKHOLM, MARCH 9, 2001 /FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT ANNA BOBINA, LUDMILA BOZHKO/ -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has met with the EU Three in Stockholm.


	


	The EU segment is represented by Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, EU Commissioner for External Relations Christopher Patten and Commissioner Xavier Solana, high representative for EU foreign affairs. 


	


	Earlier Igor Ivanov had face-to-face meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson and Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. 


	


	On Friday the Russian official is also to meet with Speaker Birgitta Dahl of the Swedish Parliament /Riksdag/. 


	


	High on the agenda of the talks will be European security, including in the context of the shaping common foreign policy and EU security policy with its military component.


	


	Prominent on the agenda will also be the problem of the Kaliningrad region /the Russian enclave in the west/ considering the forthcoming EU extension which will lead to this western part of Russia being fully surrounded by the EU member-states.


	


	Previously, during his visit to the Kaliningrad region Igor Ivanov said that Moscow targeted to conclude a special agreement with the EU on the region's problem, outlining solutions to the specific challenges facing the region.


	


	The sides are to agree on ensuring free transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia's territory, creating favourable conditions for border cooperation with due account of Schengen visa introduction in Poland and Lithuania. Besides, the negotiators are to take heed of the interests of fishing companies with the Baltic and Polish fishing quotas included in the EU general quotas.


	


	Moscow is interested in solving these issues before the EU actually expands eastwards. Earlier the Russian Foreign Minister stressed that that would determine the approach and willingness to fully cooperate with the EU.


	


	The attention of the Ivanov-EU Three will focus on the situation in the Balkans, Iraq and the Middle East. The Russian Foreign Ministry left open the possibility of raising the EU NMD problem since allies in Europe are equally concerned with the US NMD plans.


	


	Besides, the agenda of the Russian Foreign Minister includes preparations for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia's meeting with EU summit participants on the sidelines of his Stockholm visit on March 23.