Russia, Moscow, Jan. 15 / Trend , R.Agayev/
"The EU's Eastern Partnership policy is not transparent enough for Russia, although we are trying to understand its core," Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs Chairman Konstantin Kosachev said at the Russia-EU: New Stage of Relations conference in Moscow on Jan. 15.
"If the aim of the project is to enable economic and humanitarian cooperation between Europe and these 6 former Soviet countries, then there will be no issue unless the project intends to artificially undermine the friendly neighborly relations between these 6 countries and Russia," he said.
Kosachev added that if the project attempts to provide these countries with trade conditions at Russia's expense, then Moscow will be forced to react.
"We are letting our European partners know that the crucial thing is to prevent any misunderstandings," he said.
On Dec. 4, the European Commission backed an initiative by Poland and Switzerland to advance the EU's Eastern Partnership policy, which promotes closer cooperation with 6 former Soviet countries.
The Eastern Partnership will include 27 EU countries and Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, and possibly Belarus.
The organization will host talks on a visa-free regime, free trade zones and strategic accords, and implement small student-exchange, environmental-preservation and energy-supply projects.
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