(Adds quotes from commissioner, Russian minister)

By Michele Kambas

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, April 21 (Reuters) - Russia and the European Union failed to reach a quick agreement to end a 16-month Russian ban on Polish meat imports on Saturday, but will continue talks on Sunday, the EU health commissioner said.

Failure to resolve the issue would disappoint EU officials who have been hoping a deal will allow broader cooperation negotiations with Russia that Poland is blocking because of the meat dispute.

"Talks are to continue tomorrow morning," Markos Kyprianou said after several hours of negotiations with Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev in Cyprus.

"We have exhausted all our respective positions. So now we have to go back and reflect. Things are difficult. We have a different approach. So we are trying to compromise the different approaches to get a mutually acceptable result."

A deal would to allow EU foreign ministers to give a green light on Monday for the launch of talks on a new cooperation pact with Russia -- the European Union's main energy supplier -- covering energy, trade, economic cooperation and rights.

EU member Poland has said it won't end its veto until the meat ban, which it says is politically motivated, is lifted.

Gordeyev forecast on Wednesday that the talks would be difficult. During the break on Saturday, he said the atmosphere had been "friendly", and when asked if he thought an agreement could eventually be reached, replied:

"This is the third time Commissioner Kyprianou and myself met to discuss the Polish issue. And just as in the past we were in a position to identify mutually acceptable solutions I am quite confident we will do so today as well."

Gordeyev spoke through an interpreter.

Russia says it is concerned contaminated meat from countries on its banned list could reach its borders through Poland.

On Thursday, EU ministers approved steps to make it easier for Russians to obtain visas to visit the 27-nation bloc starting in June.

But any sense of an easier mood was dispelled on Friday when EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said the level of trust between the European Union and Russia had reached its lowest level since the collapse of Communism.

Mandelson, a key figure in Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in the row over the meat ban, urged both sides to take a long-term view.

EU countries fear Russia is using its vast energy resources as a political weapon. EU leaders have also expressed concern about the unexplained murders of dissidents and journalists critical of the Kremlin and recent police behaviour during anti-government demonstrations in Russia.

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