EU to seek new pact with Russia

The European Union has given the go-ahead for the start of talks with Russia on a new partnership agreement, following about 18 months of delays.

The bloc's foreign ministers approved a mandate for the talks at their meeting in Brussels.

The new partnership agreement would cover political and economic ties, including energy and trade.

The breakthrough came after objections were dropped by former communist members of the EU, including Lithuania.

Lithuania was the last member state blocking the talks, but gave way after being assured that its grievances over Russian energy supplies and tensions between Russia and Georgia would be addressed.

Poland had previously blocked the talks, demanding that Russia lift an embargo on its meat exports.

The EU hopes formally to launch the talks at an EU-Russia summit in Siberia next month.

Strained relations

While the EU is hoping to make a fresh start with Russia under its new President, Dmitry Medvedev, the talks are likely to be long and difficult, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.

Although trade between Russia and EU states has boomed in recent years, the political relationship has become increasingly strained.

The talks are likely to address issues such as security of energy supplies and human rights.

"Negotiations will certainly not be easy. They will be complex negotiations. I don't want to speculate at this moment, but I think they will take quite some time," said the EU's External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.