” “After yesterday’s stop in Moscow to meet the leaders of the Russian Federation, the EU delegates will stop in Kiev today. The agenda includes meetings with the president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushenko, the prime minister Viktor Yanukovytch and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wolodymyr Ohrysko. The European troika is composed of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the high officer for foreign policy Javier Solana, and the commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero Waldner. The meetings with Moscow’s government addressed several subjects, as Steinmeier explained, such as "the balance of relations between the EU and Russia", in particular "the new partnership and cooperation agreement". Steinmeier specified that "the agreement must place emphasis on education, research and science as well as on justice and economy". Neither Steinmeier nor his counterpart, Serghei Lavrov, failed to mention the disagreements that prevent them drawing up such new agreement: indirect reference was made to Poland’s "no" to the renewal of the partnership agreement and to Russia’s refusal to subscribe to the Energy Charter outlined by the EU. Other subjects that divided the parties are the situation of Iran and the future status of Kosovo.” “
