Russia's President Vladimir Putin has agreed a deal with the European Union over travel arrangements for Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave that will be surrounded by the EU after 2004. But sharp differences over the conflict in Chechnya prevented the two sides from issuing a joint statement following yesterday's EU-Russia summit in Berlin.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the summit venue to protest against Russia's human rights record in Chechnya, and Belgian police made a number of arrests.
Under the agreement on Kalinigrad, Russian citizens will be able to travel through Lithuania to and from the rest of the Russian Federation after receiving a multi-entry transit visa or a simple document for single journeys.
The single-entry document will be available at railway stations and can be acquired at the same time as a ticket for travel.
Russia wanted its citizens to be allowed to travel to and from Kaliningrad without a visa.
But Lithuania was concerned that its sovereignty should be respected and the EU was determined to avoid any weakening in its external border controls.
The Danish Prime Minister, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen, whose country holds the EU Presidency, expressed satisfaction at the agreement.
"I believe we have found the right balance between all the interests involved," he said.
Mr Putin said that the negotiations had been difficult and that it was not clear until "the very last minute" that an agreement would be reached.
He suggested that elements of the deal could be improved in future talks with the EU. "I would not say the decision is ideal in all its elements," he said.
The EU has agreed to carry out a feasibility study to examine the possibility of creating a high-speed rail link between Kaliningrad and the rest of the Russian Federation.
Russia hopes that, if security concerns can be allayed, travellers on such a train would not require a visa.
Despite the agreement on Kaliningrad and a joint expression of determination to fight international terrorism, Russia and the EU found little agreement on Chechnya.
The External Affairs Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, said that the EU repeated its view that the conflict required a political as well as a security solution.
""I could not say we have a meeting of minds on this," he said.
Mr Putin said that Russia was in favour of a political solution but he insisted that the conflict in Chechnya was part of the fight against international terrorism.
"Either we deal with these people together or we are in for big trouble," he said.
Diplomatic sources said last night that Denmark's uncompromising approach to the Chechnya question was the most important reason no joint statement was issued after the summit.
At the closing press conference, Mr Rasmussen defended his government's decision to allow Chechen separatists to meet in Copenhagen last month and he criticised Russia's response to the event.
Mr Rasmussen reiterated the European Union's call for human rights to be respected in the breakaway Caucasian republic, where allegations of atrocities by Russian troops are rife.
"Both sides must respect human rights, and those who don't \ be brought to trial without delay," the Danish Prime Minister said.
"The international community must be allowed to help the innocents caught in the conflict. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed into Chechnya to reach those in need," he added.
Outside the meeting, the French philosopher André Glucksmann condemned Russia's war in Chechnya and compared Mr Putin to Stalin.
"The war in Chechnya is a colonial war. Stalin carried out action to deport the Chechens and the Russian army is once again exterminating the Chechen people," he said.
Meanwhile, separatist Chechen leader Mr Aslan Maskhadov said yesterday he was still prepared to meet President Putin despite being described as a "murderer", while a former top security official called on Mr Putin to overcome his "emotions".
Mr Maskhadov's offer came shortly after Mr Putin on Sunday described him as a "murderer," saying he would not negotiate with him.
