EU Enlargement, to include Poland and Lithuania, two countries that surround the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, would create "certain problems," Moscow conceded today.
"We are trying to resolve in advance, together with the European Union, the problems which could arise and have proposed to our partners that we begin consultations on the matter," Interfax quoted the Russian foreign ministry as saying.
Poland said yesterday it was ready to cooperate over the Kaliningrad region -known as East Prussia until the Russian army captured it in 1945 - once EU membership is extended to Warsaw and its Baltic neighbours.
"The Kaliningrad enclave is an integral part of the Russia Federation and cannot become the object of bargaining," said ministry spokesman Mr Alexander Yakovenko, who denied Moscow and Berlin were secretly negotiating its future status.
Britain's Sunday Telegraphnewspaper reported that Germany was discussing plans to become the key economic power in Kaliningrad in exchange for cancelling part of Russia's debt to Germany.
Mr Yakovenko described the reports of the deal as "far-fetched fabrications," Interfax said.
AFP
