Summit to focus on global economy

MOSCOW, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The economic crisis will trump security issues at a summit between Russia and the European Union, Russia's envoy said Monday.

"The issue of the economic crisis has naturally come to the fore," said Vladimir Chizhov.

The two-day summit, which begins Friday in Nice, France, is to focus first on current and future economic policies of Russia and EU member states before turning to a European security treaty proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, RIA Novosti reported.

The summit might also discuss Medvedev's warning Russia could deploy short-range Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad Region in response to U.S. missile defense plans in Europe, Chizhov said.

"These issues will obviously be discussed in the context of prospects for establishing a new European security system," Chizhov told the Russian news agency.