EU leaders gathering for an emergency summit in Brussels on Monday vowed to be "vigilant" in their ties with Russia.
The European Union could take decisions "concerning the future" of relations, according to a draft declaration being discussed by EU leaders. "We expect Russia to act responsibly, in line with all its commitments. The Union will remain vigilant," the statement said.
The bloc will "examine carefully and deeply the situation and the different dimensions of EU-Russia relations," the statement said, noting that the results of this examination could become apparent by an EU-Russia summit in November.
Germany denounces Russia, but encourages dialogue Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: German Chancellor Angela Merkel arries at the EU summit German Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced German Business Leaders Oppose Sanctions Against Russia ...
Czechs reiterate support for Georgia's territorial integrity ...
Germany Presses Russia on Swift Withdrawal From Georgia ...
Steinmeier: Russia has "Crossed the Line" in Georgia ... 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 EU summit on the crisis, Merkel said she was "disappointed and dissatisfied" that Russia had not fully implemented the six-point plan drawn up on Aug. 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," Merkel said, but added that the "threads of dialogue with Russia should not be severed."
EU split on sanctions against Russia Monday's draft declaration contained no references to sanctions but described ties between the 27-nation bloc and its largest energy supplier as being at a "crossroads."
"The European Council is gravely concerned by the open conflict which has broken out in Georgia, by the resulting violence and by the disproportionate reaction of Russia," the draft said.
Ahead of the emergency summit, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the Union would not approve sanctions against Russia at the summit but would 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 with punitive action, while France, Germany and Italy stress dialogue with Moscow as the best way forward.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: French President Sarkozy shares a word with British Prime Minister Brown and Luxembourg's Junker In a separate move, Britain called on the EU to suspend talks on a wide-ranging new partnership agreement up for renewal with Russia as a demonstration of protest.
"In light of Russia's actions we should suspend negotiations on a successor to the partnership and cooperation agreement," a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown told reporters in London before leaving for the half-day summit.
Brown's remarks contrasted sharply with a conciliatory tone in Paris, where Prime Minister Francois Fillon said President Nicolas Sarkozy would embark on new mediation between Georgia and Russia and seek to pursue dialogue with the Kremlin.
"Either we want to relaunch the Cold War, point our finger at Russia, isolate it and stamp on it as was the case for a decade -- that is not the choice of France or Europe -- or we choose the option of dialogue," Fillon told French radio.
Russia uses military might to return to world stage Before the summit opened, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow's military intervention in Georgia had set a new standard for defending its national interests.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the West against supporting Georgia's leadership "Russia has returned to the world stage as a responsible state which can defend its citizens," he declared, adding that the United States must "start adapting" to this reality.
Russia crushed Georgia in a short war last month after Tbilisi tried to recapture by force its rebel, pro-Russian region of South Ossetia. Moscow said it intervened to prevent Georgian 'genocide' there. It drew Western condemnation by pushing far beyond the disputed area, bombing and deploying troops deep inside Georgia.
The former Soviet republic is strategically important to the West because it hosts oil and gas pipelines that bypass Russia.
EU needs balanced approach to Russia 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."
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 strengthen its relationship with Georgia and to wean itself from its dependence on Russian gas and oil.
EU nations receive about 40 percent of their gas and some 33 percent of their oil from Russia.
EU-Russian partnership up for evaluation 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.
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.
(Deutsche Welle)
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