EU, Russia sign landmark accord
MOSCOW, Russia -- Russia and the European Union have signed a landmark cooperation agreement ranging from economic ties mutual security, according to Russian news agencies.
The accord was signed Tuesday at an EU-Russian summit in Moscow. Many of the details had been agreed to during pre-summit talks a day earlier.
CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty said the so-called "road map to the future" touches on four main areas -- the economy, human rights, security, and education and culture.
The accord is aimed at defusing years of tension that followed the EU's enlargement to include former members of the Soviet Union.
"The process of forming a great Europe following the fall of the Berlin wall continues," Putin said at the opening of summit.
"We want a Europe without dividing lines."
Dougherty said one issue still to be resolved is that of visas.
The two sides plan to continue on easing visa regulations with the goal of eventually allowing visa-free travel between Russia and the 25-member bloc.
Russia is expected to take responsibility for the repatriation of illegal immigrants who have left Russia to seek entry into the EU, in accordance with EU practice, Reuters reported.
The two have shared a border in several places since the EU expanded last year ago to include a string of Baltic and East European nations, formerly part of the Soviet sphere of influence.
Agreement came a day after world leaders gathered in Moscow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two in a spectacular show of Red Square pageantry, reminiscent of the Soviet Union's heyday as a world superpower.
The EU is Moscow's largest trading partner with over half of Russia's exports going to the bloc. Russia supplies the EU with around one fifth of its oil and gas needs.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
