Putin, Barroso begin tete-a-tete talks

The meeting is being held within the eye-to-eye format.

Deputy head of the Russian government staff, Yuri Ushakov, said on Wednesday that the talks would focus on trade issues, Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation and energy problems.

In parallel Russia's ministers are holding talks with their European colleagues at the European Commission headquarters.

Russia's delegation led by Vladimir Putin involves Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, Minister of Health and Social Development Tatyana Golikova, Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik, Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko, Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Minister of Communications and Mass Media Igor Shchegolev; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.

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