(23 Oct 2006)
1. Wide exteriors of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)
2. Students walking towards entrance of MGIMO
3. Sculpture on exterior of building
4. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, standing in front of microphones
5. Ambassadors and delegation standing
6. Close up Benita Ferrero-Waldner
7. Mid of Sergey Lavrov and Benita Ferrero-Waldner cutting a red ribbon to open the European Studies Institute, which is part of the MGIMO
8. Mid of European Studies Institute Plaque
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy:
"Certainly it is of gravest concern to us if we see that there are so big tensions between Georgia and Russia. And if we see what has happened, you know the blockage at the borders, also Georgian-owned businesses that are really in trouble, the questions of the Russian children in schools that are being harassed in some way. This is certainly very worrying."
10. Cutaway Ferrero-Waldner speaking to reporters
11. Wide of Ferrero-Waldner speaking in the audience hall
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy:
"The European Union is worried about some developments in the field of democracy and human rights and media freedom. The murder of Anna Politkovskaya who for many in Europe was a model of a courageous journalistic investigation in the public interest has shocked us. Guarantees of media freedom are essential for a healthy society."
13. Mid of students in audience, listening to speech
14. Wide of students applauding as Ferrero-Waldner leaves the podium
STORYLINE:
The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, expressed concerns on Monday over current tensions between Georgia and Russia, and Russia's record on media freedom.
Ferrero-Waldner was in Moscow where she opened the new European Studies Institute at the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO) and had a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
Speaking after the inauguration ceremony, Ferrero-Waldner said the ongoing tensions between Russia and Georgia were "of gravest concern."
Tension between Tbilisi and Moscow has heightened sharply since Georgia arrested Russian officers on espionage charges in September.
Despite their swift release, Russia retaliated with sanctions against its small, southern neighbour, including a transport blockade.
Georgia accuses Russia of backing the separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in a bid to maintain its influence and undermine the government of President Mikhail Saakashvili. Saakashvili has pledged to rein in the breakaway regions.
Ferrero-Waldner also said the European Union was concerned about democracy and human rights and media freedom in Russia.
"The murder of Anna Politkovskaya, who for many in Europe was a model of a courageous journalistic investigation in the public interest has shocked us. Guarantees of media freedom are essential for a healthy society," she said.
Anna Politkovskaya, who had exposed killings, torture and other abuses against civilians in Chechnya, was gunned
down in an apparent contract killing in her Moscow apartment building on October 7.
The perpetrators have not been found.
It is the latest example of the expansion of ties between the EU and Russia in the area of education.
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