The FINANCIAL — European Union heads of state and government meet in Brussels on September 1 to discuss what to do following Russia's crushing of Georgia.
According to Bloomberg, the E.U. should review its ties with Russia to head off further aggression by the nation, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on August 31.
“In the light of Russian actions, the EU should review — root and branch — our relationship with Russia,'' Brown said in a commentary published on August 31, in U.K. newspaper the Observer. The 27- nation bloc must “intensify'' support to “Georgia and others who may face Russian aggression,'' he said.
Brown said he told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a phone conversation on August 30 that he should expect a “determined European response.''
Bloomberg announces, that Russia supplies about a quarter of the European Union's natural gas and Russian officials have warned of retaliation for any sanctions. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on August 31 in televised comments that EU leaders should keep in mind that their “own interests are closest to heart.''
According to Telegraph, Brown has said, that his message to Russia is simple: “if you want to be welcome at the top table of organisations such as the G8, OECD and WTO, you must accept that with rights come responsibilities.”
"We want Russia to be a good partner in the G8 and other organisations, but it cannot pick and choose which rules to adhere to."
According to CNN, Moscow's response to NATO's warning that normal relations could not continue was to swat it away with a contemptuous "See if we care." Russia simply announced in return it was severing its working arrangements with NATO.
Since then both sides have been maneuvering. To the amazement of most European diplomats Vladimir Putin claimed to CNN that the U.S. had pushed Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili into provoking the crisis as a U.S. presidential campaign tactic.
According to China View, Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has long been at odds with Russia over its two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as its own bids to join NATO and the European Union.
Earlier this month, Georgia sent in troops to reclaim South Ossetia, triggering a military counter-offensive by Russia. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow brokered by France.
However, tensions between the two nations were heightened as Russia recognized the self-proclaimed independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 19.
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