Russia, EU hold more talks on agreement

MOSCOW, April 4 (UPI) -- Russia and the European Union held talks Friday on a replacement for the 1997 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian envoy to the EU, said the next talks will be in June, the Novosti news agency reported. A summit meeting is scheduled for May.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the delegations, meeting in Moscow, went over the results of previous talks on cooperation in security; freedom, internal security and justice; the economy; and scientific research, education and culture.

The 1997 agreement was to expire after 10 years but has been extended. Talks have been delayed because of strains over the admission of Poland and Lithuania to the union and by Russian military action against Georgia last year.