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An overwhelming majority of Russians say they would like to see their country as a European Union member, according to a poll released Sunday.
The June poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation showed 73 percent of respondents favored the interaction of Russia with EU while 10 percent of the interviewed expressed opposite opinion.The figures in May were 52 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
Some 52 percent of those questioned believed that most European leaders look favorably on Russia, while 24 percent disagreed with this view. Most respondents suggested that today's environment is favorable for Russia's rapprochement with the EU. 32 percent of those polled described current cooperation between Russia and the EU as successful. The same number of respondents says that the country is making progress in its contacts with the EU, as well asthe United States.
About 50 percent of respondents underscored the need for Russia to develop equal partnership ties both with the EU and the United States, although 31 percent of those interviewed insisted that top priority should be given to contacts with the EU. Only 2 percent said Russia should primarily focus on expanding its cooperation with the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held an informal meeting with leaders from 15 countries-members of EU and leaders from the 10 quasi-members of the EU on May 31 in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg on the sideline of the celebrations marking the city's 300th birthday. During the meeting Putin vowed to work for a visa-free deal with the EU to allow free movement of personnel between Russia and the bloc.
(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2003)
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