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EU ambassador to Russia voices concern over trade decline

The Moscow-Brussels relations are going though far from the best times but the European Union has no intention of breaking ties with Russia, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas says

MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. A 20% decline in the Russia-EU trade turnover in 2014 reported by Eurostat caused concern, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said during his meeting with Chairman of the Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev on Friday.

"I am confident that the Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee under your chairmanship will mediate for all parties to comply with the Minsk accords. This would be a significant step to bring stability, security and peace back to Ukraine," Usackas said.

Kosachev stated that Russia-EU trade turnover dropped by 7.3% over 11 months of 2014, while Russia-US trade grew by 7.5%. As for other countries, Russia's trade with Egypt doubled and trade with New Zealand grew by 50% in the same period, the Russian lawmaker said. Touching upon the country’s foreign trade with Serbia, Kosachev said that food export to Russia grew to €300 million in 2014 from €180 million in 2013. This year’s food exports from Serbia are expected to reach €500 million.

"I share your concern over the 20% drop in the Russia-EU trade in 2014. But you are aware of our point of view why this happened," said the diplomat.

The EU ambassador to Russia said that the Moscow-Brussels relations were going though far from the best times but the European Union had no intention of breaking ties with Russia. "We have always believed that arguments and discussions help us to better understand the reasons for difference in opinions," said Usackas.