BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters on Friday he was "very optimistic" about a deal that would end a Russian import ban on Polish meat.

As European Union President, Germany is trying to help hammer out an agreement to end the year-old Russian ban which is holding up the start of talks on a broad cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia.

Steinmeier also said he had "good hope" those talks could start soon.

(Reporting by Noah Barkin, Berlin Newsroom, +49 30 2888 5230, madeline.chambers@reuters.com)

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