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EU foreign ministers appeal Russia to stop using trade restrictions and threats to punish East European nations. Swedish and Dutch Foreign Ministers Carl Bildt and Frans Timmermans made statements about Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at the EU ministerial in Luxembourg, today.
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Carl Bildt reaffirmed that at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius (Nov. 28-29) , the member states would initialize Associate Membership Agreement with Georgia and Moldova. He added that in this process the EU should be prepared for any possible steps by Russia.
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"There might be things that we can do to help the nations that are under pressure from Russia, Bildt said, and he warned Moscow that any more pressure would be counterproductive.
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The ministers said that Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are seeking closer relations with the EU. However, Moscow is urging those nations to align themselves closer with Russia instead and it is using pressure to back up its demand.
"No one can stop us from having closer ties with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, Dutch minister Frans Timmermans said.
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The 28 EU countries hope to agree on closer cooperation deals with the East European countries at the Vilnius summit.