election strains ties The Hague, Nov 25, SPA -- Russian President VladimirPutin arrived in the Netherlands on Thursday for aRussia-EU summit at which efforts to launch a newpartnership appeared likely to be overshadowed by thedisputed election in Ukraine. Putin's arrival for the half-day meeting was delayed morethan an hour by fog. With the EU and the United States strongly criticizing theelection in the former Soviet republic, Putin has comeunder fire in the West for rushing to congratulate PrimeMinister Viktor Yanukovych as the winner. Putin's effort to legitimize a result seen in the West asthe product of a slanted campaign and fraudulent vote puthim at odds with Europe over Ukraine, a country both Russiaand the EU consider strategically important. The summit in The Hague will be Putin's first meeting withnew European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, whowarned Wednesday of "consequences" for Ukraine unless itconducts a "complete review of the electoral process." Anticipating questions about his support for Yanukovych,who wants closer ties with Moscow _ while many Russianpoliticians see his election rival Viktor Yushchenko as adangerous foe _ Putin's EU relations aide SergeiYastrzhembsky said his boss would not be evasive. "If our partners at the summit raise a question, therehas never been an instance that Russia and its partnerswould evade a discussion," Yastrzhembsky said on EkhoMoskvy radio on Wednesday. He said the issue "is not theprimary one in relations between Russia and the EuropeanUnion."--more1414 Local Time 1114 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/219585