AGL 39.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.50 (-1.25%)
AIRLINK 127.98 Decreased By ▼ -1.08 (-0.84%)
BOP 6.84 Increased By ▲ 0.09 (1.33%)
CNERGY 4.70 Increased By ▲ 0.21 (4.68%)
DCL 8.39 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-1.87%)
DFML 41.00 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (0.44%)
DGKC 82.24 Increased By ▲ 1.28 (1.58%)
FCCL 33.10 Increased By ▲ 0.33 (1.01%)
FFBL 74.40 Decreased By ▼ -0.03 (-0.04%)
FFL 11.85 Increased By ▲ 0.11 (0.94%)
HUBC 109.90 Increased By ▲ 0.32 (0.29%)
HUMNL 14.10 Increased By ▲ 0.35 (2.55%)
KEL 5.23 Decreased By ▼ -0.08 (-1.51%)
KOSM 7.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.22 (-2.85%)
MLCF 39.35 Increased By ▲ 0.75 (1.94%)
NBP 63.71 Increased By ▲ 0.20 (0.31%)
OGDC 193.00 Decreased By ▼ -1.69 (-0.87%)
PAEL 25.55 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-0.62%)
PIBTL 7.30 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-1.22%)
PPL 153.30 Decreased By ▼ -2.15 (-1.38%)
PRL 25.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.29 (-1.12%)
PTC 17.55 Increased By ▲ 0.05 (0.29%)
SEARL 81.50 Increased By ▲ 2.85 (3.62%)
TELE 7.62 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-3.05%)
TOMCL 33.49 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-0.71%)
TPLP 8.43 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.36%)
TREET 16.37 Increased By ▲ 0.10 (0.61%)
TRG 56.62 Decreased By ▼ -1.60 (-2.75%)
UNITY 27.51 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.07%)
WTL 1.36 Decreased By ▼ -0.03 (-2.16%)
BR100 10,509 Increased By 63.7 (0.61%)
BR30 31,122 Decreased By -67.6 (-0.22%)
KSE100 98,264 Increased By 465.7 (0.48%)
KSE30 30,685 Increased By 203.8 (0.67%)

The European Union should use the election of Dmitry Medvedev as Russia's next president as a chance for a fresh start in relations, the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain and Sweden said on Friday. Medvedev, elected earlier this month, will take over on May 7 from Vladimir Putin, with whom Europe has often had a rocky relationship despite its dependence on Russian energy.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that Medvedev had spoken of wanting to develop the rule of law, civil rights and the market economy, key EU values around which the 27-member bloc wants to forge a new understanding with Moscow.
"Russia has voted. There will be a new President Medvedev and I believe that is an opportunity that we should use," Steinmeier told reporters as he arrived for a meeting of EU counterparts in the Slovenian town of Brdo. "This is an important moment for the European relations with Russia," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, whose country has seen ties with Russia sour over Russia's refusal to extradite an ex-KGB agent wanted for trial for murder in London.
"There is a potential for partnership that is the partnership of equals, not the partnership of on the one hand the supplicant and on the other hand someone in the dominating position," said Miliband, stressing the Russian economy needed European demand just as Europe needed its energy. Sweden's Carl Bildt voiced optimism of better ties under Medvedev but added: "Certain of the things he's said recently are things we should listen to and see if deeds follow word EU President Slovenia wants the ministers to agree a common line for the EU's first summit with Medvedev in Siberia in June.

Copyright Reuters, 2008

Comments

Comments are closed.