(KHANTY MANSIYSK) - Russia and the European Union launched talks Friday on a long-delayed cooperation agreement to govern bilateral ties, a joint statement released after summit talks in Siberia said.

"We, the leaders of the European Union and the Russian Federation today in Khanty-Mansiysk launched the negotiations for a new EU-Russia agreement," the statement said.

"We agreed that the aim is to conclude a strategic agreement that will provide a comprehensive framework for EU-Russia relations for the forseeable future," the statement said.

The new overarching accord is designed to replace one that dates from 1997. The start of talks were delayed for 18 months by objections raised first by EU members Poland and Lithuania.

"The first round of negotiations will take place in Brussels on July 4," the statement said.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.