RUSSIA - Nov. 11 - Moscow & EU Clinch Deal On Kaliningrad.

At the Russia-EU summit in Brussels, Pres. Putin and EU officials clinch a deal over the status of the tiny enclave of Kaliningrad, lifting an obstacle for the smooth entry of Lithuania into the EU. (The negotiations on the dispute over Kaliningrad have been held between Russian, EU and Lithuanian officials for more than a year. Once Poland and Lithuania join the EU in 2004, Kaliningrad will become a Russian enclave sandwiched between those two member countries, and the problem of movement of Russian citizens from the Russian motherland to the enclave of Kaliningrad will inevitably emerge). Putin and EU officials agree that Russian citizens will be able to travel to and from the enclave with flexible "facilitated travel documents" issued by the Lithuanian government. Visas in all but name, these FTDs will be free to Russians, with the costs carried by the EU. Putin said: "The decision over Kaliningrad is not ideal in all the elements. But we are satisfied with the results". But Putin was in no compromising mood over Chechnya. During the news conference after the summit he said no religion, Christian or Muslim, was safe from extremists. The fight against terrorists in Chechnya, he added, was not just a Russian struggle but involved the international community. Putin did not rule out political dialogue but insisted that it could not include Aslan Maskhadov, the separatist president.