Cautious EU Considers “Sanctions” On Russia For Georgia Invasion
August 28th, 2008
By JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief
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Tensions are rising between Russia and the European Union as the EU talks of possible sanctions — and Russia pointedly tests a new intercontinental missile.
At issue: Russia’s invasion of Georgia and the larger issue of whether Russia now intends to clamp down on what goes on in its neighborhood, whether those in its neighborhood like it or not. The BBC reports:
EU leaders are considering sanctions “and many other means” against Russia over the Georgia crisis, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said.
But he said he hoped the matter would “be solved by negotiation”.
Moscow’s military action in Georgia and its recognition of independence for rebel regions has angered the West.
At a key summit, Moscow’s Asian allies have not followed suit in recognising independence but Russia’s president says he has their “understanding”.
There’s a reason besides a military one that explains why the EU is treading lightly: every day Russia pumps 1.2 million barrels down the Druzhba pipeline to fuel Europe — and it’s economy. But the EU’s exploring sanctions signals that, more than ever in recent years, Russia is now facing diplomatic isolation. The White House issued a statement saying it was “premature” to talk of sanctions.
Meanwhile eyebrows have been raised over Russia’s new missile test, coming as the threat of sanctions was raised and several other events that were likely displeasing to Moscow:
The missile test in northern Russia came barely a week after the United States completed an accord with Poland on basing an anti-missile shield in central Europe and as Russia accuses NATO of building up its navy vessels in the Black Sea.
A spokesman for Russia’s strategic nuclear forces said the test was successful, Russian news agencies reported. The announcement came as Russia complained about the number of NATO ships in the Black Sea and said it was taking “measures of precaution”.
NATO said there were five warships taking part in exercises in the Black Sea that were organised before Russia’s military offensive in Georgia on August 8 to rebuff a Georgian attempt to retake breakaway South Ossetia.
The standoff with the West deepened with President Dmitry Medvedev’s announcement that Russia recognised South Ossetia and another rebel region, Abkhazia, as independent states.
“There is no NATO naval build up in the Black Sea as Russian authorities are claiming in the media,” alliance spokeswoman Carmen Romero said.
At the same time, Russia was talking about its own arrangement to counter NATO:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed expanding a security alliance with China and Central Asia to counter NATO, as the European Union considered sanctions for its recognition of breakaway Georgian regions.
The alliance, known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, “has grown much stronger recently,” Medvedev said today at a meeting in the Tajik capital Dushanbe. “It’s an authoritative organization that commands respect.” The group has attracted interest from a number of countries and will consider adding new members, he said.
But other reports note that Russia has stressed that it wants to keep a “constructive” relationship with Washington on Iran and other issues — as tensions continue to rise…
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am and is filed under European Union, Georgia (Country of FSU), Bush Administration, Russia, Europe. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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