"The European Union today firmly supported Georgia, while not closing the door on Russia", said the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša after the extraordinary meeting of the European Council, which was held in Brussels on the French Presidency's initiative. He added that the EU representatives would discuss in more detail the conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation and its consequences in Moscow next week. "The European Union insists on the implementation of the six-point agreement on Georgia. The further fate of the negotiations on the partnership agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation also depends on rapid implementation of the agreement. This is the key and specific decision of this European Council," Prime Minister Janša emphasised.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
Pending the implementation of all six points, the adoption of the decision on freezing negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, opened during the Slovenian Presidency, is a rather resolute action, according to Mr Janša. The unity of the Member States in this area was reached quite fast and no additional or stricter measures were proposed. "The unity of the Member States in relation to the Russian Federation was reached so fast also because several discussions had been conducted earlier during the harmonisation of the negotiating framework for a new partnership agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation. Therefore, there was no need for us today to reiterate these discussions."
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
The key subject of the imminent talks in Moscow will be the implementation of the six points of the Agreement, in particular Point 6, which Russia had in fact already violated. Under this point, the international community will open the discussion on the determination of the final status or the resolution of the status issues regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "By unilaterally recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia after having already signed this Agreement, the Russian Federation directly called into question Point 6 of the Agreement and consequently, also its credibility. I think that Russia has made a political mistake. It will probably be on this point, where it will be most difficult to return to the situation before their signature. The withdrawal of Russian forces from the occupied territories in Georgia to their positions prior to 8 August is crucial to peace and stability," said the Prime Minister.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
According to PM Janša, today's decision to firmly support Georgia is pitched at the right level. At the same time, however, it does not close the door on Russia considering its common interests and cooperation. The latter is important both for the European Union and the Russian Federation. "Without Russian cooperation, one cannot expect an adequate level of stability in either Georgia, the region or in the whole of the eastern EU neighbourhood," the Prime Minister is convinced. He also announced that EU leaders would resume their talks on this issue in October and November, respectively, when specific conclusions were scheduled to be adopted.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
The heads of state and government also agreed that the European Union would assist Georgia in its reconstruction efforts and accelerate procedures of mutual cooperation. Thus, the procedures for issuing visas to Georgian nationals for entering the EU will be simplified. The EU-27 will also participate by sending a mission for securing stability and establishing trust in Georgia. The EU will provide financial assistance through donation conferences as well. It should, however, be recalled that it has already assisted Georgia in a large measure by way of donations for refugees and initial rescue measures immediately after the armed conflict.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
At the extraordinary meeting of the European Council, Mr Janša advocated support for the Georgian proposal that an international investigation should be carried out in order to discover how individual events had progressed during the conflict between Georgia and Russia. He pointed out a very interesting discussion at yesterday's Bled Strategic Forum, which was attended by representatives of both the Georgian Government and the Russian Foreign Ministry. "On this occasion, some very interesting details came to light as to when tanks crossed the border, what weapons were used by whom and who had armed separate groups in South Ossetia with weapons. When a neutral international investigating commission provides us with accurate and unambiguous dates and data, it will also be easier to answer who actually started the conflict," said Prime Minister Janša. He added that it was now quite obvious that the concentration of Russian forces in this region had not occurred overnight, as the preparations had continued for a longer period of time. Within the context of certain wider estimates, the Prime Minister is convinced that this evidence suggests that someone had decided to demonstrate power in this region.
