Russia, EU open talks on new pact

Russia and the European Union launched long-delayed talks on a new cooperation pact on Friday, with EU chiefs hoping President Dmitry Medvedev would be a more willing partner than his predecessor Vladimir Putin.

Medvedev, who took over from Putin last month, stressed cooperation in his opening remarks to the summit, held in a Siberian oil boom town.

"We want to move forward to give a new impetus to our relations and overcome problems emerging in the course of their development," the Russian leader said.