"Talks on the main documents determining our relations, which should reflect the new quality of our cooperation, will obviously be a focus of the two EU presidencies in 2007," Sergei Lavrov told a news conference.
The EU-Russia partnership agreement currently in effect expires in December 2007. But talks on a replacement have been blocked by Poland, which has been protesting a Russian embargo on exports of Polish meat and plant products.
The measure was introduced in November over the EU newcomer's alleged violations of veterinary regulations.
"We have on our agenda the creation of a new document that would replace the [current EU-Russia] Partnership and Cooperation Agreement," he said. "Our negotiation mandate is ready, and we are waiting for the European Commission [the EU's executive body] to receive the same mandate."
Lavrov also said Russia expects an agreement reached with the EU on visa facilitation and readmission to come into effect in early 2007.
Russia and the EU signed the agreement on visa facilitation and readmission at a Russia-EU summit held at the Black Sea resort of Sochi in late May.
Russia agreed to accept repatriated individuals who entered the EU from its territory illegally or stayed there beyond the term of their visas, while Europe will simplify visa-issuing procedures for Russian students, journalists, businessmen, cultural workers, scientists and athletes.
Lavrov said the EU should do more to ensure ethnic minority rights in the Baltic countries.
"The European Union owes a small debt, including on securing the rights of ethnic minorities in the Baltic States," he said.
He said that when Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania joined the EU, they assumed obligations to ensure ethnic minority rights, adding that such obligations were also recorded in a joint Russia-EU declaration.
"I believe the problem concerns not only the EU, but also NATO, since the Baltic States were admitted to these organizations as countries that met corresponding democratic standards," he said.
