President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said on Tuesday that resuming negotiations with Russia on a new partnership deal was not a gift for Russia but in the interest of Europe.

It was not "a gift for Russia" from the EU to resume negotiations between the European Union and Russia, Barroso told a joint press conference with visiting Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

For the EU, there were financial, investment and economic interests to negotiate with Russia on a new Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, he said.

The EU needed to work with Russia in fighting climate change and maintaining energy security.

"I think it is in the interest of the EU to keep the dialogue with Russia to promote stability in Europe," Barroso concluded.

On the upcoming donor's conference for Georgia, Barroso said that he expected the EU to come up with 500 million euros.

But Saakashvili expected twice that amount by saying: "We are talking about the possibility of mobilizing twice that sum through individual donors."

The EU is to host the donors' conference for Georgia in Brussels on Oct. 22.

Commenting on Russia's military pullout, Saakashvili said that the withdrawal was the first part of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the EU.

"I must admit that the first part of the plan signed with (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy has been fulfilled, yet Russian servicemen remain in certain areas of Georgia and do not plan to pull out," he told the press conference.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2008)