BernardKouchner says sanctions are a possibility among other unspecifiedmeans, but he adds the current impasse must be solved throughnegotiations.
Moscow's recognition of the independence ofGeorgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia lies at thecore of its dispute with the West.
France has called anemergency European Union summit for Monday to discuss what it mightconsider to do collectively in light of Russia's refusal to pull backall of its troops from Georgia.
Meanwhile in Brussels, Moscow'sambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, was asked at a newsconference if he felt that the 27-nation body might actually levy someform of sanctions on Russia.
"I would not want to speculate onthe outcome of the European Council, of course, I can only express thewish that the leaders, European leaders, heads of state and governmentof the European Union will be able to rise above the emotions of theday and consider, seriously and without prejudice the perspectives ofstrategic partnership with their important partner, the RussianFederation," said Chizhov.
Chizhov says sanctions would worsenrelations between Russia and West and he says if they were to beimplemented, they would actually hurt the West more than any pain thatRussia might incur.
"First of all, I highly doubt that mightever happen, but theoretically speaking, hypothetically speaking, thiswould be to the detriment of the European Union, as much if not more,than to Russia," said Chizhov.
Just more than 60 percent ofRussia's oil and gas exports go to the European Union, and EU leadersare well aware that higher prices could be one unwelcome outcome ofimposing sanctions on Moscow.
Some European states, likeGermany, have taken the view that the European Union should moderateits response if it wants to assume a mediator role to try to persuadeRussia to pull back its troops, to accept international peacekeepersand to eventually strike a long-term solution acceptable to all.