Europe was stronger than expected in Moscow

Europe was stronger than expected in Moscow. E en i they ormally rejected the idea o imposing sanctions on the Russia, the European Heads o State and Go ernment ha e strongly condemned yesterday in Brussels, its decision to recognize the two separatist pro inces o Georgia. They ha e also announced that the EU-Russia negotiations or the conclusion o a new partnership agreement will be rozen as long as Moscow will not withdraw all its troops rom Georgia, as pro ided or in the agreement concluded on 12 August. As early as next Monday, Nicolas Sarkozy, accompanied by José Manuel Barroso, President o the Commission and Ja ier Solana, the High Representati e or oreign A airs o the Union, will tra el to Moscow and then Tbilisi to eri y compliance with the six points o the cease ire agreements with the Russian authorities and to in orm the authorities o Georgia economic and political support increased rom twenty-se enwhich increase their aid or the reconstruction, acilitate obtaining isas and prepare the conclusion o an agreement o ree trade with the Union as soon as circumstances permit.

"The Union considers that what is happening in Georgia is o extreme gra ity and it intends to assume ully all o its responsibilities," said Nicolas Sarkozy at the end o this three-hour special, extended or an hour just Summit meeting. The President o the Republic, it was thus to orget the di isions which had caused "impotence and inaction o Europe" at the pre ious extraordinary Summit o 2003, de oted to the war in Iraq. "Today, he said," this same Union says his willingness to speak with one oice to consolidate the cease ire, to demand the ull implementation o this agreement, to continue to be in ol ed in the resolution o this crisis and to participate in the reconstruction o the Georgia". On this last point, the twenty-se en agreed to con ene an International Con erence on the reconstruction o the country, other nations that could join in the e orts o the Union.

This text is clearly the product o a compromise between ad ocates o a line high against the Russia, put orward by Britain and the Poland a ourable at least in the immediate suspension o negotiations with Moscow that they ha e obtained and those who, as the Germany, the rance, the Italy and the Luxembourg were anxious not to break with Moscow bridges and consider premature any idea o actions o retaliation rom Moscowreassuring in that the Russian Ministry o oreign A airs which called at the same time a "balanced and air" analysis o the situation.

Signi icantly hardened

Upon his arri al in Brussels, Nicolas Sarkozy had set the tone by con irming that Europe pre erred diplomacy to con rontation in the dra t conclusions presented to its partners. This text has howe er been signi icantly hardened since he did not, initially, to immediately suspend negotiations with Moscow. José Manuel Barroso held to pay tribute to the e orts o Nicolas Sarkozy to ind a compromise. "The Union has demonstrated its e ecti eness in reaching a rapid and collecti e agreement." We ha e thus sent a clear message to Moscow and the rest o the world. We want to de elop a modern partnership with the Russia, but we could not continue as i nothing had happened. At the same time, we want to deepen our relations with the Georgia.