EU: The European Union and the Russian Federation have agreed to "step up efforts" to resolve outstanding issues over the extension of the EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA).
Russia has been reluctant to include the accession states under the terms of the agreement and the EU has hinted at possible trade reprisals.
Speaking in Dublin Castle after EU-Russia talks yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said it was a crucial issue because the PCA was "the cornerstone of EU-Russia relations". Discussions would continue in Brussels between the Commission and Russia over the next couple of days.
On Chechnya, Mr Cowen said: "The EU restated its continuing and genuine concerns about both terrorist attacks and human rights violations. We discussed the resolution which the EU has tabled on the situation in Chechnya at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. Clearly, there is a difference between us on this issue, but we looked forward to greater dialogue and co-operation on the delivery of humanitarian aid."
Asked about the latest statement by President Bush on the Iraqi situation, Mr Cowen said the EU had "always seen the UN as having a very important role". The EU welcomed the reaffirmation that the US was interested in a possible future UN resolution.
The new Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Sergei Lavrov, said "terrorists" were blocking the process of normalisation and rebuilding in Chechnya.
Asked about the case of Aslan Davletukaev, a human rights activist who was abducted and murdered in the Chechen region last January, Mr Lavrov indicated he was not familiar with the details but he declared nevertheless that "a breach of human rights in Chechnya will not be left uninvestigated".
Criminal prosecutions had been taken in the past by the Russian federal authorities who were operating within the proper rules. Human rights was a "a very serious question" which Russia took very seriously.
He expressed concern about the position of Russian-speaking minorities in parts of the EU. Calling for non-visa travel between the EU and Russia, he expressed dissatisfaction with the suggested target date of 2008.
On Iraq, Mr Lavrov said there should be early action under the auspices of the UN on the crisis. "We would call on the UN to act." It was only through the UN that the Iraqi crisis could be resolved.
In a humorous aside, Mr Lavrov quipped that he had been almost fined €3,000 for having a cigarette in a restaurant in Dublin on Tuesday.
A delegation from the Society for Russian-Chechen Friendship will discuss human rights issues in the region at a meeting in University College Galway tomorrow at 2 p.m.