Brussels - European Union foreign ministers sidelined Lithuanian objections Monday and decided to re-start talks on a strategic treaty with Russia which it froze after Russia's August war with Georgia. "It was a very solid discussion, all EU member states except one are in line to take up the (EU-Russia) partnership talks again," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who chaired the talks as holder of the EU's rotating presidency.
At the close of the meeting, the French EU presidency published a statement stressing that the re-start of negotiations with Russia "in no way legitimizes the status quo in Georgia or the Russian actions which went against our principles."
The EU "continues to support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia," the statement, which diplomats said was supported by all EU member states except Lithuania, said.
And Russia "must continue to comply with its engagements and play a constructive role in international (peace) talks in Geneva," pull its troops back to pre-war lines and allow international observers into Russia's breakaway territories, the statement said.
But Lithuania reacted with outrage to the move, which comes just days before Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attends a summit with top EU officials in France on Friday.
Lithuania's Deputy Foreign Minister Zygimantas Pavilionis told Deutsche Presse-Agentur
