Moscow criticizes EU intentions to lift sanctions against China

Moscow critically assesses the position of the European Union, which is coming for lifting sanctions imposed on China and for simultaneous pressure on Russia as far as observance of human rights is concerned, a high-placed source in the diplomatic circles of Russia told RIA Novosti about this on Wednesday.

"This is barefaced cynicism, is it really so that China has outstripped Russia in the sphere of democratic rights and freedoms?" the source asked rhetorically.

In his words, the striving of Western producers to open for themselves the Chinese market of arms sales is quite understandable. "However this should not take place against the background of criticism lashed out at Russia over observance human rights in Chechnya," the source said.

He also stated that "the expected lifting of EU sanctions against China would not lead to a sharp expansion of the military-technical cooperation of the European countries with Beijing. "The list of products China is interested in can be manufactured only by Russia and the USA," the source said.

The EU imposed the embargo on supplies of weapons to China in June 1999 after the suppression of the students' demonstration and disturbances in Beijing, in particular in the Tianmen Square.