(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-29 08:33

BRDO, Slovenia -- The European Union should use the election of Dmitry Medvedev as Russia's next president as a chance for a fresh start in relations, Germany said on Friday.

Medvedev, elected earlier this month, will take over on May 7 from Vladimir Putin, with whom the EU has often had a rocky relationship.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters on arrival for an EU foreign ministers' meeting: "Russia has voted. There will be a new President Medvedev and I believe that is an opportunity that we should use."

He noted that Medvedev had spoken of wanting to develop the rule of law, civil rights and the market economy.

Steinmeier said he hoped the 27 EU ministers would remove hurdles to opening talks with Moscow on a new strategic partnership agreement soon.

Differences on how to deal with a resurgent Russia have blocked the start of negotiations since 2006. EU countries are torn between competing desires to promote business and energy interests with Russia and to raise what they say concerns over human rights and its treatment of ex-Soviet neighbours.

Poland and Lithuania vetoed the start of talks in 2006 after Moscow banned imports of Polish meat and cut off oil supplies to a Lithuanian refinery that was sold to a Polish company rather than a Russian rival.

The new Polish government has agreed to lift its objection after the embargo was ended, but Vilnius is holding out and has added the case of a missing businessman and "frozen conflicts" in Georgia and Moldova to the oil issue, diplomats say.

Steinmeier said he understood the concerns of some member states for the security of their energy supplies.

"That belongs in the agreement, which is why I am pleading for as early as possible a start to negotiations," he said.

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