EU, Russia slam Libyan bloodshed

The European Union and Russia have jointly condemned the bloody suppression of the Libyan people’s revolution.

The full college of European Commissioners and a dozen ministers from Moscow had been meeting in Brussels on a range of EU-Russia matters, including energy, trade and economic coordination.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, at a joint press briefing with Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said that, in spite of calming statements that radical groups stand little chance of exercising more power in northern Africa, this was still a concern for Russia.

Putin stressed his belief in non-interference in countries’ internal affairs. He said: “Not so long ago, our partners called for free and democratic elections in the Palestinian territories, and Hamas [the radical Islamist movement] won them.”

The EU and Russian foreign ministers said: “Supporting Arab peoples’ aspirations for a more just and prosperous life, the EU and Russia stand ready to provide economic and other assistance to interested countries.”

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