With French leader Nicolas Sarkozy occupying the rotating seat of the EU presidency, what do the French have to say about the widening crisis in the Caucasus and America’s role in it?
Outlining what’s at stake, Pierre Rousselin writes for Le Figaro:
“South Ossetia might seem like beautiful, distant confetti lost in the Caucasus, but the fighting taking place there must be taken very seriously. An open war has begun between Russia and pro-Western Georgia, over Georgian territory where Moscow supports secessionist aspirations. But this issue goes far beyond that. This concerns the relations that Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Dimitri Medvedev Russia wish to establish with its ‘near abroad’ and the Atlantic Alliance.
Pointing to the central dilemma for the West, Rousselin writes:
“Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities are needed, as is insistence on Moscow’s compliance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally-recognized borders. But to impose such fine principles, we’ll have to make them forget the precedent of the unilateral independence of Kosovo which the Kremlin brandishes to justify its intervention in support of the Georgian separatists.”
Then commenting on what recent events demonstrate and what should be done, Rousselin goes on:
“Is NATO going to risk a war with Russia to save Georgia? In bombing the base where U.S. instructors are stationed, the Russian Air Force has pointed its finger at Western impotence. Now that Moscow has unleashed its tanks and planes into the battle, Georgia doesn’t stand a chance … he conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi has been brewing for a long time. Now that war is at the gates of our continent – the European Union, under the French presidency, must regain the initiative to ensure that relations with Russia don’t irreversibly deteriorate.”
EDITORIAL By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Nicolas Dagher
August 9, 2008
France – Le Figaro – Original Article (French)
South Ossetia might seem like beautiful, distant confetti lost in the Caucasus, but the fighting taking place there must be taken very seriously. An open war has begun between Russia and pro-Western Georgia, over Georgian territory where Moscow supports secessionist aspirations.
But this issue goes far beyond that. This concerns the relations that Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Dimitri Medvedev Russia wish to establish with its “near abroad” and the Atlantic Alliance.
Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities in needed, as is insistence on Moscow’s compliance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally-recognized borders. But to impose such fine principles, we’ll have to make them forget the precedent of the unilateral independence of Kosovo which the Kremlin brandishes to justify its intervention in support of the Georgian separatists.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the crisis in the Caucuses as it impinges on our nation. More articles from France, Germany and Romania expected in the next 24 hours.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US