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December 2, 2008 7:12:39 PM CST

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EU Holds Emergency Summit on Georgia

Posted Sep 1, 08 2:53 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – European Union leaders gather in Brussels in an emergency session today to review their stance on Russia’s invasion of Georgia. It's the first emergency EU meeting since the run-up to the Iraq war in 2003. With conflicting positions from the UK, France and Germany, analysts say the summit will likely produce support for Georgia and a major rethink on European ties with Russia—but no radical changes, reports the Guardian.

The UK is pushing for a strong EU response, including freezing Russia's membership in the G8, but France fears that sanctions could provoke retaliation from tough-talking Moscow. The German reaction has been mixed, reflecting current fractures within the country’s national government. Russia supplies Europe with a third of its oil and 40% of its gas—but Moscow officials have said they won’t play the energy card in dealings with Europe.

Sources Guardian (UK), BBC

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French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner addresses the media at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, on Aug. 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks to the media in Moscow on Aug. 13. An EU peace plan for Georgia and Russia struggled to take hold in August, due to the reality of Russian dominance.   (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
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If any of the European countries wants to serve someone's narrow political interests, then go ahead. We cannot stop them. But we think, as they say in such cases, 'You have to look out for number one'. - Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin

In the light of Russian actions, the EU should review - root and branch - our relationship with Russia. - UK prime minister Gordon Brown

We will continue to have Russia as our neighbour also beyond the current day, and it is in our own interest to return to a normal relationship. - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

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Russia • France • Nicolas Sarkozy • Georgia • Germany • European Union • Gordon Brown • Vladimir Putin • energy independence


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