German Ambassador to Poland Reinhard Schweppe on Thursday said that Poland will be supported by its European Union (EU) partners in the trade dispute with Russia over meat exports.

Russia imposed an embargo on Polish meat in November 2005, citing fraudulent veterinary certificates issued by Poland to justify the ban. Poland argues that Moscow is playing politics because of its differences with the conservative government in Warsaw.

According to reports from the Polish News Agency (PAP), Schweppe told PAP that Poland has been making concerted efforts to end the dispute, but the ban has so far remained intact. Germany would hold talks with Poland and Russia during its six-month EU presidency, said Schweppe.

Last November, Poland vetoed the launch of talks between the EU and Russia on a broad economic cooperation agreement owing to the Russian embargo.

The new EU-Russia accord includes a large chapter on the issue of energy supplies aimed at securing a reliable flow of energy from Russia's massive oil and natural gas fields. The new accord is also to focus on tackling how EU companies can gain access to the Russian oil and natural gas sector.

Germany took over the rotating EU presidency on Jan. 1.

Source: Xinhua