EU officials delay Russian treaty decision

BRUSSELS, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- European Union officials say they have delayed a decision regarding when to resume partnership talks with Russia for a month.

Following an EU meeting in Brussels this week, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed he and fellow EU officials will revisit the topic of EU-Russia negotiations in November, the EU Observer said Thursday.

Juncker said Wednesday the date for the decision will likely take place after a Nov. 10 meeting regarding an audit of current EU-Russian relations, but will come before an EU-Russia summit in France Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip told the EU Observer the talks likely would be fruitless unless Russia takes recommended actions in relation to its military presence in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"First, Russia has to fulfill all its obligations and withdraw its troops from Georgia," Ansip said. "It means we cannot go on with negotiations between the European Union and Russia. First they have to fulfill all their obligations."