Russia may present RF-EU summit reasons for vegetables import ban

MOSCOW, June 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow is perplexed about the EU's
reaction to Russia's temporary ban on import of vegetables from Europe.
"This is a glaring case of abnormal reaction to a normal temporary
measure," a source in Russia's delegation to the Russia-EU summit told
reporters.
The only reason of the embargo he called an identified source of the
infection.
"As soon as they announce where the source of the infection is - the
issue will be solved," he said. "The matter is clear absolutely: there is
no ranting from the Russian side."
"Look, people are in hospitals, some die, and we should do nothing:"
he continued. "We want nothing else but learn where the source is."
"It is clear that under the threat a county introduces restrictive
measures," the source said. "We do not have an intention to limit import
of vegetables for no reason, especially in the summer season."
He rejected the statement that Russia has gone too far.
"We may offer members of the delegation to eat cucumbers on sale in
any European country."
Or it would be possible to offer cucumbers from Russia and from Europe
and to see who will eat which.
"Earlier, Russia offered drinking Georgian wine, but nobody would do
it," he continued.
"We are not saying that in Russia everything is perfect with
vegetables, but whenever any limitations are imposed against Russia, we
react by activities inside the country."
EU countries "should make a decision, they should tell us where the
source of the infection is," he said.
"First we hear about Spanish cucumbers, then about German soy - this
is not normal," he said referring to the information from Europe about the
reasons of the infection.
"We would not like the Kremlin to regulate import of vegetables, as
there are responsible authorities in the EU and in Russia," he said,
adding that neither Russia's Chief Sanitary Doctor Gennady Onishchenko,
who had introduced the ban, nor his staff will participate in the summit.