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EU says hopes for frank talks with Russia at Jan 28 summit

Summit participants will discuss the key directions of the EU-Russia strategic partnership

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BRUSSELS, January 24. /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union hopes for frank and transparent dialogue at the upcoming summit with Russia, a spokesman for the EU’s executive body, the European Commission, said Friday.

Olivier Bailly told journalists in Brussels that the summit, due January 28, will be unusual: it will be brief and will involve fewer participants.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will attend the event from the EU side, Bailly said. Russia will be represented by President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The summit participants will discuss the key directions of the EU-Russia strategic partnership, he said, including regional integration, shared neighborhood, trade issues, as well as human rights, fundamental freedoms and urgent international issues like Syria and Iran.

Bailly expressed hope that the talks would be constructive and meaningful.

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