(Releads after meeting, new throughout)

By Marcin Grajewski

BRDO, Slovenia, March 28 (Reuters) - The European Union should be ready to launch negotiations on a new strategic partnership with a resurgent Russia at a June summit in Siberia, EU officials said on Friday.

They said the election of Dmitry Medvedev as energy-rich Russia's next president was a chance for a new start in ties with Moscow on condition the bloc found the common line in dealing with Russia that proved elusive with Vladimir Putin.

"There's a summit in June which I think provides an opportunity," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told a news briefing after talks with his EU counterparts in Slovenia. "I felt that there was an EU ... developing its own sense of purpose over how to take forward this relationship with Russia," said Miliband, whose country's own ties with Moscow have been soured by Russia's refusal to extradite an ex-KGB agent wanted for murder in London.

Differences on how to deal with Russia have blocked the start of negotiations since 2006. EU countries are torn between competing desires to promote business and energy interests with Russia, and to raise concerns over human rights and its treatment of ex-Soviet neighbours.

EU president Slovenia said it was confident the EU's 27 states could agree a mandate next month for talks with Moscow on a broad pact covering trade, energy and human rights after ex-Soviet Lithuania signalled it could drop its objections.

"I am satisfied with talks today. We are moving in the right direction," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas told Reuters, stressing his country wanted better ties with Russia.

After Poland earlier this year resolved a row with Moscow over meat imports, Lithuania alone has stood in the way of a start of negotiations, saying its concerns over Russian energy dominance and treatment of its neighbours must be addressed.

It was aggrieved by Moscow's move to cut off oil supplies to a Lithuanian refinery that was sold to a Polish company rather than a Russian rival. It since added the case of a missing businessman and "frozen conflicts" in Georgia and Moldova to the oil issue, diplomats say.

DIVIDE AND RULE

Medvedev, elected earlier this month, will take over on May 7 from Putin. The Siberia summit will be his first with the EU.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted that Medvedev had spoken of wanting to develop the rule of law, civil rights and the market economy, key EU values around which the 27-member bloc wants to forge a new understanding with Moscow.

"Russia has voted. There will be a new President Medvedev and I believe that is an opportunity that we should use," said Steinmeier as he arrived for the talks.

Sweden's Carl Bildt voiced optimism of better ties under Medvedev but added: "Certain of the things he's said recently are things we should listen to and see if deeds follow words."

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, whose country has long suffered strained relations with its larger neighbour, said he expected an early start to negotiations now but added:

"We must be directed by our values, although Russia is an important partner to us. The partnership must not be based on double-standards," Sikorski told reporters.

Before the meeting, France's Bernard Kouchner and Miliband sent a letter to the Slovenian presidency arguing that now was the time to put EU-Russia relations on a new footing.

"But we should be clear that the actual negotiations could be tough and drawn out," they said in the letter, obtained by Reuters.

"Experience shows that Russia respects the EU when we are able to adopt united positions, and act accordingly. Conversely, Russia is adept at exploiting disunity among EU member states." (Additional reporting by Paul Taylor and Mark John) (Writing by Mark John and Paul Taylor; Editing by Mary Gabriel)

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