THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL STRENGTHEN THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, SAID JAVIER SOLANA








BRUSSELS, MARCH 2. (FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT VIKTOR ONUCHKO). The enlargement of the European Union will strengthen the importance of its relations with Russia, general secretary of the European Union council said in Paris. He delivered a report on security policy under conditions of the EU enlargement in the French institute of international relations.


	"Our common border just as our common interests will widen with the expansion of the European Union", Solana pointed out. He also stressed that it is in the interests of the European Union to help Russia consolidate its economy, democracy and civil society. Russia should fully interact with the European Union in creating a new, prosperous political and economic space, believes Javier Solana. 


	According to him, the question pertaining to relations between Russia and the European states is one of the main elements of European history with which Russia is closely connected, Solana said. He also believes that the list of questions on which the European Union should continue developing close cooperation with Russia is long: environmental protection problems, non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons, regional crises, migration of the population, and organised crime.