Spox: Jean-Claude Juncker to visit St Petersburg forum in Jun

MOSCOW/BRUSSELS, May 30 (PRIME) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will visit the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum slated for June 16–18 in order to make public the Brussels’ opinion on prospects of the Russia–E.U. relations, a spokesman for the European Commission told PRIME on Monday.

Juncker will “use the opportunity to explain the E.U. vision of the current state of relations between the E.U. and Russia to Russian authorities and to a wider audience,” the spokesman said.

Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin sees a future visit by Juncker as a sign of Brussels’ readiness for dialogue with Russia.

“Yes, we are expecting a visit by Mr. Juncker, and we are preparing for it. In general, the issue of relations between Russia and the E.U. is extremely important for Russia still. They are now far from their best,” Peskov said.

“We have lived for many years without a foundation document, a conceptual, framework document. As you know, we did not manage to sign it long ago and after that, there was even a curtailing of cooperation and dialogue in many areas due to, let’s say, the policy which the European partners are sticking to,” he said.

Peskov confirmed that a meeting between Juncker and President Vladimir Putin will be staged during the forum.

Spokesman for the European Commission Margaritis Schinas said that the authority does not see any relation between the visit of Juncker to Russia and a possibility of repeal of the sanctions against Russia.

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