EU shocked as Putin comes out fighting

Insiders' reports from EU leaders' dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 20 October 2006 in Lahti, Finland, talk of unusually blunt exchanges between the two sides, in which Mr Putin said he would not listen to lectures about human rights, and rejected EU demands over its vitally important oil and gas business.

Finland: EU Presidency: Transcript of the second press conference for the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government, Lahti, 21 October 2006 http://www.eu2006.fi/NEWS_AND_DOCUMENTS/OTHER_DOCUMENTS/VKO42/FR_FR/1161383205709/INDEX.HTM

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