BRUSSELS. Feb 11 (Interfax) - Despite critical remarks made in Brussels regarding the February 4-6 visit to Moscow by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, there was a highly professional conversation between the sides in the Russian capital and they agreed on the need for dialogue, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.
"Although Mr. Josep Borrell, apparently having changed his wordings on his way from Moscow back to Brussels, says now that our relations 'have hit rock bottom', I think that it is largely an exaggeration. The conversation in Moscow was difficult, above all for our partners. But, on the other hand, it was sincere, beyond any doubt, and I think that no participants will deny that it was highly professional after all," Chizhov told Russian reporters on Thursday.
"Among other issues, the parties discussed matters on which our positions are close or even coincide. Such topics do exist. But we also discussed issues on which we differ today. This is what underscores the importance of continuing this dialogue, something the EU also deems necessary, by the way. And Josep Borrell confirmed this position, even when facing the downright hysteria that he encountered in the European Parliament last Tuesday," he said.
Borrell briefed the European Parliament on February 9 on the results of his visit to Russia. However, he was strongly criticized by a group of members of European Parliament (MEPs) for not being harsh enough with Russia and for the humiliation that many parliamentarians said was allegedly caused to the EU. Some MEPs even called for Borrell's resignation, describing his visit to Moscow as a failure.