LEAD: Russia ready to "back" Europe in crisis fight, Medvedev says

Dec 15, 2011, 14:50 GMT

Brussels - Russia is ready to help bolster Europe as it fights the crisis plaguing its common currency, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday, but stopped short of announcing concrete measures following a summit with leading EU officials in Brussels.

'We are ready to invest in the necessary financial means to back the European economy and the eurozone. We are ready to look at and consider other measures of support,' he told reporters.

'But the main thing is the decisions that are to be taken by EU member states,' he was quick to add. 'In the end, only Europe will be able to help Europe. But other countries should provide the conditions for Europe to liberate itself from the crisis burden.'

EU leaders had last week called on the international community for further help after deciding that they would loan 200 billion euros (267 billion dollars) to the International Monetary Fund to boost its bailout facilities.

On the margins of Thursday's summit, Russian diplomats spoke of 20 billion euros as a possible figure for a contribution by Moscow.

'Russia is interested in the EU's preservation as a powerful economic and political force,' Medvedev said, noting the trade ties between the two sides and his country's euro holdings. 'This is why we will keep backing the EU.'

The summit, which had kicked off on Wednesday evening with an informal dinner, was overshadowed by Russian opposition claims that recent parliamentary elections had been rigged.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy told reporters that the meeting had featured 'an honest discussion' about the matter.

'We are concerned by irregularities and lack of fairness ... and we are concerned by the detention of protesters,' he noted.

The European Parliament on Wednesday called for Russia to hold a new round of 'free and fair elections' and conduct investigations into any fraud claims.

'Human rights and the freedom of expression cannot be played around with,' its president, Jerzy Buzek, said in a statement. 'The European Parliament wants a serious partner that shares our values of the rule of law, freedom and justice.'

Medvedev declined to comment on the resolution, but noted that his country's legislature had 'expressed indignation with the position of the European Parliament, which should deal with European issues because they have got a lot of problems.'

The EU and Russia also do not see eye-to-eye on several international issues, most notably on how to respond to the crackdown on regime opponents in Syria. Moscow has been blocking United Nations condemnation of Damascus' actions.

Van Rompuy said he had asked Medvedev for support on the issue.

The two sides did make progress in one area: the 'common steps' that will need to be taken to achieve visa-free travel between Russia and the EU.

'The task ahead of us is to fully implement the agreed common steps, which can lead to the opening of visa-waiver negotiations,' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. 'The goal is to have a visa-free regime, but ... that's a longer-term goal.'

In the meantime, trade between the two sides is expected to grow further, with Russia set on Friday to join the World Trade Organization. Van Rompuy said the accession would offer 'a myriad of new opportunities for trade, investment and global growth.'

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