RIA Novosti: Russia looks to new EU leaders to continue strategic ties

For the complete report from RIA Novosti click on this link

Russia expects a continuation of its strategic partnership with the European Union following yesterday's election of the bloc's first president, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. "We look forward to cooperation with the new EU leadership," Lavrov said. "I am sure that Herman Van Rompuy will continue pursuing a line toward developing strategic partnership with Russia." Russia and the EU held a summit earlier this week, highlighting their cooperation on climate change, energy supplies and trade. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called the talks "one of the best meetings we have had." Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev was also positive over the outcomes of the meeting. The parties strove to repair ties, strained among other issues by last year's Georgia war, but the summit produced no breakthrough in signing a new comprehensive partnership pact to replace a treaty that expired in 2007.