EU: No other country should recognize Georgia regions (1st Lead)

Sep 1, 2008, 13:43 GMT

Brussels - The European Union on Monday condemned Russia's recognition of the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and called on other countries not to follow Moscow's lead.

The EU also demanded that Russian military forces that have not yet retreated to the positions they held prior to the August conflict 'must do so without delay,' according to a draft text of a final declaration being discussed by EU leaders in Brussels and seen by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday denounced Russia's recognition of the Georgian breakaway provinces, but insisted that the dialogue between the EU and Russia should not break down.

Arriving at the European Council headquarters in Brussels for the emergency EU summit on the crisis, Merkel said that the meeting would have two goals: to give a sign for the reconstruction of Georgia and to be united in the condemnation of the recognition of the enclaves, which she described as 'a violation of international law.'

She said she was 'disappointed and dissatisfied' that Russia had not fully implemented the six-point plan drawn up on August 12 by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in his role as EU president, to end the brief conflict between Russia and Georgia.

'The violation of Georgian territorial integrity is unacceptable,' she said, but added that the 'threads of dialogue with Russia should not be severed.'

Ahead of the emergency summit, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the Union would not approve sanctions against Russia at the summit but will instead discuss sending economic aid and a civilian mission to Georgia.

'I think sanctions are not on the agenda today,' Solana said after holding talks in Brussels with visiting Georgian Prime Minister Vladimir Gurgenidze.

The EU is split on the issue of sanctions, with Poland and the Baltic states on one side insisting that the EU should punish Russia, while France, Germany and Italy instead saying dialogue with Moscow is the best way forward.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday fired a shot across the EU's bow by telling Russian television that Moscow's decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian enclaves was 'irrevocable.'

'From a legal standpoint, the new states have come into existence. The process of their being recognized can take a long time, but our position will not change because of that,' he said.

The statement appeared to challenge a part of Sarkozy's six-point plan that calls for international discussions over the situation of the two provinces.

The EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero Waldner, said the Union was facing 'a very difficult moment' in its relationship with Russia, but said EU leaders should agree on a 'realistic and balanced approach.'

She also said that it was crucial that the bloc show its support for Georgia's territorial integrity and reach out to the country with economic aid and closer political ties.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged his fellow EU members to draw up a position 'that shows that military aggression will not pay off.' He also called on the Union to strenghten its relationship with Georgia and to wean itself from its dependence on Russian gas and oil.

EU nations receive about 40 per cent of their gas and some 33 per cent of their oil from Russia.

Solana said the emergency summit would provide leaders with an opportunity to 'evaluate' the EU's relationship with Russia and provide help to Georgia following the August conflict.

EU-Russia relations are governed by a 10-year-old Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which is currently up for renewal.

The next round of talks on a new PCA has been scheduled for September 15, with a high-level EU-Russia summit scheduled for November 14 in Nice.

Sources in Paris have said the date of the Nice summit will be seen as a deadline for Moscow's compliance with the six-point agreement.

'Whatever happens from here to there will be very important,' Solana said when asked whether the EU might discuss freezing talks on the new PCA.

In the meantime, the EU has an 'obligation' to help Georgia, which has suffered 'tremendous damage on the ground,' said Solana, who plans to visit Moscow and Tbilisi some time soon.

On top of providing humanitarian and economic aid, the EU is getting ready to boost its civilian mission, which currently compromises about 40 people, Solana said.

He also said the EU was planning to send hundreds of observers to Georgia to verify if Moscow is implementing the ceasefire agreement.