EU urges Putin to uphold democracy, energy supply

MOSCOW, Mar 18 (Reuters) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said today he had urged President Vladimir Putin to uphold democracy and received assurances that Russia would remain a stable energy supplier.

Putin has faced criticism from opposition politicians and the United States for backsliding on democracy as the Kremlin crafts the agenda for Russia's presidency of the Group of Eight industrialised nations this year.

''We would like to be sure that the transition in Russia, that it is of course a specific transition because of the huge problems and huge dimensions of Russia, is a transition to a democracy and not a transition to a some sort of half democracy,'' Barroso said.

''This was expressed in the most explicit terms on my side.'' Barroso, who had a 3-1/2 hour meeting with Putin yesterday at the Novo-Ogaryovo residency outside Moscow, told reporters he received assurances from Putin on energy supplies and democracy.

Putin's drive to strengthen the Kremlin's grip over the media, regional governors and oil and gas companies has provoked accusations of an increasingly autocratic style of rule.

The White House said on Thursday in a national security strategy that recent trends in Russia pointed towards a diminishing commitment to democratic freedoms and institutions.

Barroso urged Russia to uphold democratic principles and an open economy, including in the energy sector to develop closer ties with the EU.

''For the closer relationship we want to have with Russia to succeed, it is important to have basically the same values and principles of democracy, open society and an open economy,'' Barroso said.

The European Union is keen to ensure stable energy supplies from Russia after Moscow's dispute with Ukraine in January over the price of Russian gas disrupted European gas supplies.

Russia was criticised by other G8 countries early this year when a dispute with Ukraine led it to cut some supplies to Europe.

''President Putin confirmed to me that Russia will remain a reliable and predictable energy partner,'' Barroso said.

''We have agreed that there is an interest in having a special relationship with Russia in energy.'' Reuters DKS GC1533