Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow continues to oppose the European Union's drive to give foreign investors greater access to the country's energy deposits and pipelines.
Speaking today in Moscow after talks with top EU officials, Lavrov said Russia respects the principles of an international energy treaty, but objects to some key elements.
In the past, Russian officials have said Moscow will not ratify the EU's Energy Charter in its current form. The charter regulates transit and investment in the energy sector.
Russia says Brussels must offer assets comparable in value in exchange for such access.
Lavrov also suggested that the EU sanction transit countries that cause supply disruptions, an apparent reference to Ukraine and Belarus.
"We also noted during our talks today that some of the transit countries that created problems in energy resources supply from Russia to Europe are members of the Energy Charter treaty, so members of this treaty can certainly use methods provided in it to discipline those transit countries," Lavrov said.
The 27-member EU relies on Russia for about one-quarter of its energy supplies.
Pricing disputes with Ukraine and Belarus have temporarily interrupted supplies to Europe, raising questions about Moscow's reliability as a supplier.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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