UPDATE 1-EU nears Russia talks mandate, deal seen in April

(updates with progress on energy security, quotes)

By Paul Taylor

BRUSSELS, March 19 (Reuters) - The European Union made progress on Wednesday on drawing up a long-stalled mandate to negotiate a new partnership accord with Russia and should agree in April to launch talks, the EU's Slovenian presidency said.

EU ambassadors approved two statements on security of energy supplies to be annexed to the document in response to the concerns of Poland and Lithuania, which have been blocking the start of negotiations since 2006.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel wants EU foreign ministers to hold a strategic debate on relations with Moscow at informal talks next week, opening the way for a decision at a formal meeting on April 28, a Slovenian spokeswoman said.

The launching of the EU-Russia talks, expected to run for several years, is part of a broader effort to improve ties between the West and Moscow as President-elect Dmitry Medvedev takes over from Vladimir Putin in early May, diplomats say.

"Some member states would rather make it a welcome present to Medvedev than a farewell gift to Putin," one said.

Warsaw vetoed the talks, due to cover a range of issues from trade and energy to human rights, after Russia banned the import of meat and other food products from Poland, citing fraudulent documents of origin.

Poland's then conservative nationalist government accused the Kremlin of political motives.