Russia stands firm on Polish meat ban

MOSCOW, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A Russian ambassador said the European Union shouldn't interfere in Russia's ban on Polish meat products, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.

Vladimir Chizov, Russia's ambassador to the EU, said the meat ban is an example of the EU trying to influence an outcome when one country has a problem with another, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia imposed the ban November 2005, saying some Polish meats products where unsanitary. Poland then blocked talks on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the European Union.

Chizov accused "unscrupulous" Polish leaders and their EU supporters of wanting to flood the Russian market with low-quality products, RIA Novosti reported.

Despite the dispute, Russia continues to support a stable and strong EU capable of pursuing a "common coordinated foreign policy which included Russia," Chizov said, noting Russian officials remained optimistic that Poland's change of leadership in recent elections might help end the meat ban.