Ararat News -Publishing (ANP) – Fiona Lorin / Roni Alasor, 26/8/2008 / Brussels –
While Georgian-Russian conflict become more then a hot potato, the European socialists in EU-Parliament ask to play an active role as mediator in the conflict before the cold-war syndrome become a reality between Russia and NATO.
EU is divided in Russian-Georgian conflict
In a statement by the EU’s French presidency on Tuesday, the EU condemned the Russian decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway regions of Georgia, and called for political solution of the conflict.
The main political groups in the European Parliament also stand united to maintain the dialogue in order to find peaceful compromise between all the parties involved.
The Euro MPs discussed the situation in Georgia with the French Secretary for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili during a special meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament last week in Brussels.
Socialist MPs insisted that the recent conflict in Georgia should be analyzed in the context of the specific and complex situation in Caucasus. Other conflict territories as Nagorno Karabakh in Azerbaijan, Crimea in Ukraine, Transnistria in Moldova can be potential reason for future tensions between Russia and the ex-soviet Republics and lead to the ethnical balkanisation of Caucasus. The economic interests and the oil and gas pipelines going through the region are also in stake in the conflict and the fragile balance of forces between Russia, EU, USA and Turkey should be preserved in the interest of all the parties involved, said the socialists.
Vice-president of the Socialist Group and member of the South Caucasus interparliamentary Delegation, Hannes Swoboda : "we welcome the efforts of the French presidency and the unity shown by the EU which should be maintained. All the parties involved have to implement the cease-fire and restore the situation that existed before the conflict. We demand a full and immediate implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
The EU should continue to play an active role as a mediator and it should be ready to be part of a peace keeping force if all parties agree".
On the other hand European People’s Party deeply regretted the declarations made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev making explicit reference to the risk of a "new Cold War" between Russians and Europeans. "Our political Group is in favour of an open and frank dialogue between Russia and the European Union", declared the Chairmen Joseph Daul.
The EU has already released about 6 million in humanitarian aid for Georgia. The money will be used to provide food, shelter, health care and other necessities to those affected by the conflict in Georgia, including refugees who fled from South Ossetia into Russia.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke from central Georgian rule during wars in the early 1990s after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. But, except from Russia, their now self-proclaimed independence is still not recognized internationally.
Supported by Western Europe and USA, Georgia faces the hostility of Russia since long time. Turkey is also trying to play an active role in the region by promoting the idea of a new Caucasus security and stability platform.The platform would be a basis for bringing together five Caucasian countries – Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach an agreement for peace and cooperation.
