BRUSSELS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the 27
member states of the European Union (EU) will meet here later on Monday for an
extraordinary summit on Georgia and the bloc's ties with Russia.
The EU leaders are expected to reiterate their
condemnation of Russia's actions because of its recognition of independence for
Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
They are also expected to send a "clear message" of
support for Georgia by pledging aid for reconstruction and a free trade
agreement and an easier visa regime for Georgians.
The summit is not likely to unveil plans for
sanctions against Russia, although some states, including Poland and other
Eastern European EU members, have strongly pushed for it.
Some member states, such as Britain, Poland and
Latvia, have pressed for a total reassessment of EU-Russian ties or sanctions
against Moscow, while some others, including Germany and France, prefer dialogue
with Russia, the EU's major energy supplier and important trading partner.
MOSCOW, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov on Monday called for an arms embargo against Georgia which is
getting military assistance from the United States.
"It would be correct to impose an embargo on arms
supplies to this regime, pending the arrival of new authorities who will turn
Georgia into a normal state," Lavrov said in a speech broadcast live on local
TV. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said on Sunday he will not change the recognition of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia as independent states, pledging military and economic aid to the two
Georgian breakaway regions.
"The current task of Russia is the provision of peace
and tranquillity. We have made a decision, and this decision is irreversible,"
local media quoted him as saying on Moscow's recognition over the
self-proclaimed independence of the two Caucasus regions. Full story
TBILISI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili said on Sunday his country had "no other choice" but to cut
ties with Russia after Moscow recognized the independence of two breakaway
Georgian regions.
"This was a difficult decision, but Georgia had no
other choice than that," Saakashvili was quoted by the Caucasus Press news
agency as saying. Full story
ANKARA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Georgian Foreign Minister
Eka Tkeshelashvili warned Sunday that the Russia-Georgia conflict could spark a
"domino effect," the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
The conflicts between Russia and Georgia could spread
to Ukraine or other countries, thus posing a serious threat (to regional
security), said Tkeshelashvili, who arrived in Istanbul on Sunday for a working
visit. Full story
BELGRADE, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The premiers of three
European Union member countries -- Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Latvia -- on
Sunday called for peace and stability in the Caucasus and the region's accession
to the EU.
"We are united on the need to ensure peace,
stability, territorial integrity in Georgia and the broader region and to give
the region a European perspective," said Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa
after talks with his Czech and Latvian counterparts Mirek Topolanek and Ivars
Godmanis at the Slovenian lake-side resort of Bled. Full story
MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that his country acted "correctly, morally and in
accordance with international law" on the South Ossetia issue, local media
reported.
"The truth is on our side. We act absolutely
correctly, morally and in accordance with international law," Putin said in an
interview with Russia's Vesti-24 television. Full story
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George
W. Bush discussed by telephone with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi on the
conflict between Russia and Georgia on Sunday, U.S. National Security Council
spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"The leaders discussed the importance of supporting
Georgia's territorial integrity, and the need for Russia to comply with all
elements of the cease-fire agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgia in
accordance with that agreement," Johndroe said in a statement. Full story
