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EU ready to talk with Russia on ties with neighbours: Barroso

13 June 2014 17:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Friday the European Union (EU) was ready to talk with Russia on its association agreements to be signed later this month with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"I want to reiterate our willingness to pursue talks with Russia to discuss the concrete implementation of these agreements in case there are some concerns on the Russian side," Barroso said during a visit to the South Caucasus country of Georgia.

"The association agreement, (which) we are going to sign, is drafted in such a way that will make Georgia closer to the EU, but I would like to declare that it will not prevent Georgia from improving relations with its neighbors, including Russia," Barroso said.

He hoped Russia would not react negatively to the signing of the agreements.

Barroso also warned the Georgians the EU partnership was not about satisfying their ambitions.

"Georgia implements reforms not only to relate with the EU but with concerns for its fate," he said.