Syria, Iran on agenda of EU-Russia Summit

Issues pertaining to Syria and Iran will be included in the agenda of the next European Union-Russia Summit to be held on June 3-4 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Leaders are expected to exchange views on global economic and financial developments, regional and international issues, including developments in Syria, the Middle East, Iran and North Korea, noted an EU statement here Friday. "This summit will be a most useful opportunity to take stock of the very broad EU-Russia relationship. We will also look ahead and discuss how we wish to shape the EU-Russia partnership in coming years," said the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. On his part, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said, "Russia is our largest neighbour and a strategic partner with whom we have been building a solid and mutually beneficial relationship. It is in our common interest to develop further our bilateral relationship." The EU at the summit will be represented by Van Rompuy, Barroso, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger. Russia will be represented by President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and several other Russian ministers. Leaders are also expected to discuss a new cooperation agreement between the 27-member European bloc and Russia.