EU, Asian leaders kick off summit with eye on Ukraine

Milan, Oct 16 (IANS/EFE) Leaders of the European Union (EU) and Asian nations began a two-day summit Thursday to address issues of economic cooperation and of international significance, such as climate change and human rights, with special attention to the conflict in Ukraine.

The encounter planned for the sidelines of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Friday morning between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko, has captured the attention of those attending.

According to EU sources, the meeting is also expected to involve German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that the two leaders had agreed in a phone conversation to address in Milan the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Putin is attending the summit because Russia is one of the 53 countries that form the ASEM, while Poroshenko was invited by the Italian government, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, to participate in the bilateral meetings.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is scheduled host a dinner Thursday evening for visiting dignitaries, following his one-on-one talks with Poroshenko, and then with Putin.

Shortly before traveling to Milan, Poroshenko said that he hoped to hold "important" talks with Russian leaders on issues such as ensuring the peace process and the implementation of a political process.

Although he did not expect "easy negotiations", he said he was optimistic about the implementation of the Memorandum of Minsk, which implements a ceasefire and creates a buffer zone of 30 km between the two sides.

However, on the eve of the meeting between Putin and Poroshenko, fighting has intensified in eastern Ukraine, which was again the scene of clashes Wednesday between government forces and the pro-Russian militias.

Friday's encounter will be the third meeting held between Poroshenko and Putin and after meetings in Normandy (France) and Minsk, and just days after Moscow ordered the gradual withdrawal of its troops from positions near the Ukrainian border, despite military exercises that are not scheduled to end until Nov 30.

The situation in Ukraine was one of the outstanding issues addressed Wednesday in Milan between EU Council President Van Rompuy and European Commission President Barroso during a meeting with Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang.

They agreed on the importance of restoring peace and stability in the country according to the principles of the UN, said a statement from the EU.

It added that they addressed other issues such as the importance of enhancing the fight against extremism and terrorism in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel region.

They also exchanged ideas on developing the strategic relationship between the EU and China in all its dimensions, including human rights.

Barroso and Van Rompuy will confer Thursday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Delegations from the ASEM countries will hold two working sessions Thursday, focusing on financial and economic cooperation, multilateral trade, growth, employment, climate change, human rights, and energy security.

--IANS/EFE

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