BRUSSELS. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The political dialogue between Russia and the European Union goes on, Russian Envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov told Russian reporters in Brussels on Thursday.
"Let me call your attention to the visit of Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics to Moscow last Monday and his negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov. Bearing in mind that Latvia is currently presiding in the EU Council, the visit mostly had Russia-EU content," Chizhov stated.
Besides, Lavrov has met with the ambassadors of 28 EU member countries. "Practical subjects of relations between Russia and the EU were discussed there as well," Chizhov said.
As to the proposals regarding relations with Russia which EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini had been preparing for the January 19 sitting of the Council of the European Union, the envoy said he would not comment on press leaks.
"Concerning the position of the Council of the European Union I recommend that you wait until Monday when they, as it has been announced a long time ago, have a strategic debate on prospects for the relations with Russia. Clearly, and this is not a secret, EU member states have their own opinions on this subject and they [the opinions] obviously do not coincide in certain areas sometimes. So, the debate is likely to be animated," the diplomat presumed.
He said the media should not forestall possible time of Mogherini's visit to Russia either.
"The Council of the European Union will convene on Monday. Apparently, they will have something to say about this as well. But, in principle, she has such intentions as far as I understand and I think the visit may take place in February or March," the head of the Russian mission to the EU said.