Putin Says There Is "nothing Irritating" In Russian-Polish Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Russian-Polish relations do not have "any irritating aspect." It is to a great extent a merit of the incumbent Polish president, said the Russian head of state, while opening a meeting with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski in the Kremlin Monday. According to the Russian president, our countries "boast privileged partnership relations in many spheres," not only that of energetics. At the same time, Putin noted, there are "controversial issues" in the Russian-Polish relations, especially as regards Polish plans for joining the EU. Sources, close to the Russian-Polish negotiation process have said in an interview with RIA Novosti that Moscow sees the future of bilateral economic relations "through the prism of Poland's forthcoming EU membership." According to the sources, the Russian side firmly believes that this step "will not impede continuing active and large-scale business contacts." Besides, Poland's joining the EU will not cause reduction of trade-economic cooperation or create extra barriers for personal communication, according to the sources.