RUSSIA NOT PLANNING TO JOIN EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2008 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia is a self-sufficient country and has no
intention to join the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, RF permanent
representative to the EU, said when commenting on Italian PM Silvio
Berlusconi’s statement.

"We have every reason to develop independently, but not as a part of
a union," Chizhov said, adding that Russia has some obligations to
its neighbors, the former USSR republics, Russian media reports.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday that he is in
favor of Russia becoming a member of the European Union, a "vision"
he has held for several years.

"I consider Russia to be a Western country and my plan is for the
Russian Federation to be able to become a member of the European
Union in the coming years," Berlusconi told reporters in Brussels.