French President Sarkozy wants to present a united Europe at an upcoming summit on Georgia but risks inflaming differences between members. Warsaw, in particular, wants the EU to take a hard line in EU-Russia relations. By announcing the EU summit in Brussels next Monday, Sept. 1, Sarkozy wants to say clearly to Moscow that the European Union is "a force which has to dealt with," and that agreements made with him by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev must be honored, a French diplomat told the AFP news agency on Monday, Aug. 25. The six-point peace plan brokered by Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, has been criticized in some European capitals as being too vague, too Moscow-friendly and organized with too little consultation. After Russia failed to withdraw all its troops from Georgia, a key point of the cease-fire, the French president "realized that the Russians were exploiting the ambiguous margins of the text and that there was a risk of a loss of credibility for the EU and the French presidency," European Policy Center analyst Antonio Missiroli told AFP.
By announcing the EU summit in Brussels next Monday, Sept. 1, Sarkozy wants to say clearly to Moscow that the European Union is "a force which has to dealt with," and that agreements made with him by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev must be honored, a French diplomat told the AFP news agency on Monday, Aug. 25.
The six-point peace plan brokered by Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, has been criticized in some European capitals as being too vague, too Moscow-friendly and organized with too little consultation.
After Russia failed to withdraw all its troops from Georgia, a key point of the cease-fire, the French president "realized that the Russians were exploiting the ambiguous margins of the text and that there was a risk of a loss of credibility for the EU and the French presidency," European Policy Center analyst Antonio Missiroli told AFP.
Because if there is unanimity in Europe about taking Georgia in this crazy organisation, we're in for hard times : Next, take in Ukraine, tell Russia to get the hell out of Sebastopol, then sit back and enjoy the fireworks !
Ukraine has become a hostage in the war waged by Russia. This has prompted Ukrainian authorities and all our people, including those living in the Crimea, to ponder the dangers emanating from the fact that the Russian Black Sea fleet is based on our territory [...] This conflict has proved once again that the best means of ensuring the national security of Ukraine and other countries is to participate in the collective security system of free democratic nations, exemplified today by Nato. In accordance with national legislation and its foreign policy priorities, Ukraine will continue following the path of Euro-Atlantic integration. This is the path of democracy, freedom and independence.
I hope there are wiser heads in NATO to realise this is really not a good idea keep to the Fen Causeway
So scaring people with the fact that Crimea hosts the Russian fleet may not work all that well in Crimea itself... A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
I begin to wonder if Georgia's unilateral attack was a deliberate American gamble, very much a neo-con gambit. It has certainly upset the NATO. It is obvious that whether the USA wants it or not they are deeply sided with the new members versus the old core members.
Russia's move today will likely a great deal of tension within the NATO between vindictive hawks and the realists.
Who will next recognize the independance of South Ossetsia and Abkhazia? If China were to do so it would be very much an international quandry. Certainly we can expect Syria and Venezuela to do so for what little that is worth.
Costa Rica? They recognized Kosovo, and then, to show their consistency, they also recognized Palestine,
