The leader of the EP's Russia delegation addresses questions raised by the contested Duma elections and the veto on condemning Syria in the UN Security Council.

Interview: Can Europe still work with Russia?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15866601/n003-0173-en_mf.srt

Knut Fleckenstein,  welcome to EuroparlTV.

You are heading the EU-Russia delegation  here at the European Parliament.

The EU relations with Russia  are not at their best these days,

following the general elections and doubts  about their legitimacy and fairness,

and ahead of the presidential elections  which promise more of the same,

and also considering Russia's blocking  policy within the Security Council.

How would you describe the current  relations between the EU and Russia?

My answer will be a political one,  citing the positive and the negative.

There are many positive aspects,  like joining the World Trade Organisation,

which have facilitated talks on  the EU-Russia Cooperation Agreement

But you are right, the Duma elections   of past December have left their mark

as Russia clearly didn't  follow the rules

which we agreed upon  in the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

Of which Russia is a full member.  -Precisely.

But, ultimately, these agreements  were not honoured.

Therefore, the European Parliament  can point the finger and say,

'Shouldn't we all honour  what we jointly agreed?'

Staying with the topic of elections,  the presidential elections are imminent.

Are you confident that they will take  place in closer accordance with the rules?

It's in the interest of the Russian rulers  not to repeat the same mistakes.

Of course, there are problems  in terms of public perception.

When does a president or prime minister  become an election candidate?

We've had the same issues in Germany,  but there it's a much bigger problem.

that we won't see vote-rigging of a same  scale as with the Duma elections.

Perhaps fraud won't be necessary,  as many candidates couldn't even qualify.

They had to gather  a huge number of votes,

and some of the best-known  politicians from the opposition

were already excluded  at the very beginning.

So the elections were already rigged  from the start.

There may indeed be a few candidates  missing from the elections.

But the huge demonstrations  coinciding with the election campaign,

prove that more and more Russians  no longer want this prescribed democracy,

but want to take their rights  as citizens.

I especially like the people  wearing the white ribbons.

but merely want to raise  awareness for the fact

that the rights they are entitled to  must be asserted at some point.

Moving on to foreign policy, the situation  within the UN Security Council,

and Russia's and China's blocking policy  towards the situation in Syria.

What should the European Parliament's  message be on this issue?

We should make it clear to Russia  that we have a joint responsibility,

and we are convinced that this joint  responsibility towards the Syrian people

can only be fulfilled  by clearly defining our position.

I can't imagine that a compromise  with Mr Assad is possible in any way.

The Russian foreign minister  gave it a shot, with devastating results.

aren't exactly unanimous  when it comes to Russia.

Initially, several different resolutions  were put forward which then changed.

Some demanded suspending  parliamentary cooperation

until there are  free and fair elections.

There are different groups  with different opinions and agendas.

everyone agreed that suspending the joint  parliamentary work would not be sensible.

It's a Cooperation Committee,  not a Fair Weather Committee.

And whoever thinks that progress  can be achieved by suspending talks

is hoping for miracles,  and miracles have no place in politics.