BRUSSELS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) heads of state and government began their emergency summit Monday to discuss the Georgia crisis and seek a compromise on the bloc's relations with Russia.
The leaders, who are expected to show support for Georgia, will be unlikely to agree on sanctions against Russia.
"I do not want any sanctions because we are economically interdependent with the Russians -- Russians need our market, we need the Russian market," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb told reporters ahead of the summit.
But he indicated that the EU will come up with a strong-worded statement against Moscow.
"That (no sanction) does not mean that we should stay away from tough language," he said.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also indicated that there would not be sanctions against Russia.
"What we should do is to have a crystal clear, but at the same time rational, realistic and balanced approach (to Russia)," she told reporters.
Ferrero-Waldner said that the EU is having a difficult moment with Russia. "With Russia, it certainly cannot be business as usual," she said.
The commissioner said that the EU will show solidarity with Georgia.
"We have to show to Georgia that we really support their territorial integrity and will do more for their economy," she said.
On Aug. 7, Georgia launched a sudden attack on South Ossetia in an attempt to regain control of the breakaway region. Tbilisi's move triggered prompt reactions from Russia, whose troops drove Georgian forces out of the region.
Russia last week recognized South Ossetia and another breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent states, a move that angered the West.
Russia calls for arms embargo against
Georgia
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
Medvedev: Russia's recognition over
breakaway regions irreversible
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
Georgia says cutting ties with Russia
its only choice
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
Georgian FM: Russia-Georgia conflict
likely to trigger "domino effect"
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
Three EU premiers call for Caucasus
peace, stability
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
Putin says Russia acts "correctly" in
S Ossetia
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
Bush, Berlusconi talk over phone on
Georgia-Russia conflict
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
