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The enlargement of the European Union should not impede the progress of Russia’s relations with countries intending to join the EU, Acting President Vladimir Putin said as he opened the meeting.

Russia is interested in the progress of its contacts with the European Union as much as before, he stressed. At the same time, there are certain problems in Russia-EU relations, and Russia believes those problems are important.

Mr Putin thanked the leaders of practically all European countries, who had congratulated him on his election as president.

The agenda included preparations for a Russia-EU summit due in May, and a Russia-EU cooperation meeting of foreign ministers in Luxemburg, to be held the following week. In response to the visitors’ request, Vladimir Putin offered them detailed information about the progress of reforms and about developments in Chechnya, as well as Russia’s efforts to end the conflict in the North Caucasus.