Blair urges Russia to play by energy rules

(LONDON) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged Russia Monday to "play by the same rules" as Europe and the United States over energy supplies, echoing concerns about Moscow's behaviour.

Blair, briefing lawmakers on a European Union (EU) summit last week, said concern over the issue of Russia's behaviour was a constant theme of European meetings.

"There's is a desire to engage with Russia as a major partner for Europe, but there is also a great deal of wariness, for the very reasons that he gives," he said, when one lawmaker asked about Russia's authoritarianism, rights record and destabilizing influence.

"One of the reasons why countries round Europe are taking decisions on their energy policy like some of the decisions we have taken here is precisely because we are concerned about this," Blair said.

"I hope that in the end Russia understands... that its best prospect of playing its full part in the international community and certainly its best opportunity to be a strong economy, is if it plays by the same rules as everbody else, or certainly everybody else in Europe and with America, too."

Russia caused alarm in Europe early last year when it cut oil supplies in a price dispute with Ukraine, which had a knock-on effect on a number of EU countries.

In January this year concern resurfaced when oil supplies were again suspended, this time due to a row between Russia and Belarus.

"At every oportunity we discuss this both with our allies and insofar as we can with the Russians as well," said Blair, adding: "The developments on this in the next couple of years will be extremely important."