Russia's tit-for-tat move over limiting coal imports

Economy Ministry Press Office announced on Thursday that it would not comment on information from the Russian press agency Interfax that Russia would limit the imports of some of Polish goods. According to the agency, quoting a Russian government representative, among those commodities are food products, cosmetics, perfumes and furniture. This could be a reaction to limiting imports of Russian coal to Poland. "The procedures have started in accordance with Russian legislation," said Interfax's informer. He added that Russians view the import limits imposed by the Polish side as evident signs of discrimination. According to Polish officials, this move was only made in order to protect the domestic market and the coal quota was simply kept at its 2002 level of 690,000 tones. (Parkiet, p. 7; www.onet.pl