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Jul 5, 2008, 8:51 GMT

Leave Russia alone, energy expert says

Paris - Europe is playing an ineffectual double game with Russia and must cease if it wants to better diversify its energy sources, the former head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Claude Mandil, told European energy ministers on Saturday in Paris. 'On the one hand we are horrified that there will be a shortage of Russian gas and, on the other hand, we are verbally aggressive with Russia,' Mandil said. 'Let's be flexible,' he went on. 'Let's stop provoking Russian sovereignty in the belief that we can dictate Russian behaviour on energy.' Mandil delivered his address on the third, and last, day of an informal meeting of EU environment and energy ministers in the French capital. The ministers are working towards drawing up a package of laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of renewable energy sources and make energy use more efficient across Europe. Mandil also told the ministers that 'energy security is crucial to protecting the environment and to economic growth.' France, which assumed the rotating EU presidency on July 1, and Brussels want to have the package approved by the European Parliament by the end of the French term, on December 31, or at the latest in March 2009, just ahead of European Parliament elections.

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