European Union leaders met for a one-dayemergency summit in Brussels on Monday to discuss how to deal withRussia in light of its military action in Georgia and its recognitionof independence for the breakaway Georgian republics of South Ossetiaand Abkhazia.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said thatgiven these events, there can be no "business as usual" with Russia."The 27 members of the European Union are totally united in condemningthe aggression of the Russian government," he said.
In the end,EU leaders called Russian military action in Georgia unacceptable andcondemned its recognition of the two breakaway regions.
Therewas also a warning that relations between the EU and Russia couldsuffer. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the rotating EUpresidency, said Europe wants a real partnership with Russia. But, hesaid, it takes two to make that happen. So for now, Europe haspostponed talks on a wide-ranging economic and political partnershipagreement with Russia until Moscow withdraws its troops from Georgia.
Fightingbetween Russia and Georgia began in early August after the Georgianmilitary launched an offensive against pro-Russian separatist forces inSouth Ossetia. Russian forces then launched a counter-attack, drivingthe Georgians out of South Ossetia as well as Abkhazia, and sendingtroops into other parts of Georgia.
President Sarkozy brokeredthe cease-fire agreement between Russia and Georgia and says he willtravel to Moscow again next week.
In Washington, the Bushadministration welcomed the European Union's decisions on Georgia. TheWhite House said "Europe and the United States are united in standingfirm behind Georgia's territorial integrity, sovereignty andreconstruction."
But the European Union has been divided overhow to deal with Russia during this crisis. Some, including Britainand some of the former Soviet bloc nations of Eastern Europe, wantedtougher action. There has been talk of imposing sanctions againstRussia. Others, including France, Germany and Italy, balked at thatidea and stressed the need for continued dialogue.
Speaking onBritish radio, former British Foreign Secretary David Owen saidsanctions are not a viable option for the E.U. because they wouldexpose Europe's weakness, its dependence on Russian energy exports."Europe is divided over Russia. And one of the problems is thatGermany, France and Italy have a very heavy dependence on Russian gas. But the fact is that all the European Union is very dependent onRussian energy supplies," he said.
Owen said he believes talk ofa new Cold War has been blown out of proportion and that he isconfident the current crisis can be resolved through diplomacy.