Wary of Russia, EU works on eastern ties

PRAGUE: The European Union launched a plan yesterday to foster closer political and economic ties with six former Soviet republics while persuading Russia it is not trying to muscle in on its sphere of influence.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, poor east European and Caspian countries mostly bordering Russia, are suffering from the economic crisis and the EU is keen to avert political instability in a region that carries all its gas imports from Russia.

The Eastern Partnership, with funding of 600 million euros ($799 million), will aim to promote democratic reform, economic integration and energy security in the six states.