Putin tells AgMin to speed up talks on Polish meat
MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) Russia's President Vladimir Putin told Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev to intensify talks with the European Union on lifting a ban on imports of Polish agricultural products, news agencies said today.
''Solutions should be looked for,'' Itar-Tass quoted Putin as saying.
''The problem should be freed from politics and solved on a professional level but with good will and in a regime of partnership, taking into account the interests of both our partners and our farmers.'' Poland has blocked the start of talks between Russia and the EU on a new partnership agreement after Moscow imposed a ban on imports of Polish meat and other agricultural products 17 months ago, citing cases of forged certificates.
Warsaw said the ban was politically motivated to punish it for moving out of Moscow's orbit.
An EU-Russia summit, which took place on the banks of the Volga river on May 18, failed to resolve the row over Polish imports and unblock the launch of talks on the bilateral partnership agreement.
REUTERS
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