Main focus of Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A new dynamic in the Caucasus

In a meeting with EU Council President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his country's troops would leave Georgia's heartland within one month. At the same time, Medvedev agreed to the EU's sending 200 observers to the Caucasus. Europe's press evaluates the meeting in Meiendorf Castle near Moscow.

La Vanguardia - Spain

The Spanish paper La Vanguardia praises Europe's skill in negotiating with Moscow: "After several weeks of tension, Russia and the European Union have agreed on more meaningful relations and want to foster dialogue and good will in ironing out their differences on the conflict. ... The EU has made good use of its limited room for manoeuvring and scored a victory for diplomacy over violence. A small consolation which stands in contrast to the growing tensions between Russia and the US. Yesterday Washington broke off an agreement on nuclear cooperation when several Russian warships and fighter planes armed with nuclear warheads arrived in Venezuela – in answer to the presence of the ... US fleet in Georgia. It is time to call for a return to good relations between Washington and Moscow." (09/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S.

La Repubblica - Italy

The daily La Repubblica ascribes the success of the negotiations with Moscow to the French EU presidency. "In the name of the EU it was able to convince Moscow to adhere, albeit belatedly, to all the points laid down in the agreement with Tiflis. ... It is clear that Europe must step in to fill the political void created by the mistakes of the Bush Administration and the paralysis arising from the US election campaign, in the Caucasus as well as in the Middle East. The EU can be proud of its new role but should also ask itself to what extent it owes this to the fortunate circumstance of acting under such a respected presidency as that of the French. From January on, when the Czech EU presidency begins, the Union is unlikely to wield the same negotiating power as it does now. This serves to once again underline how important it is that the Treaty of Lisbon, which foresees a permanent presidency, is adopted." (09/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » France, » Russia, » Europe, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Andrea Bonanni

The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom

The Daily Telegraph mistrusts the mediation initiatives of EU Council President Nicolas Sarkozy: "We should also be concerned, moreover, that we are leaving a vital part of Britain's foreign (and energy security) policy to Mr Sarkozy; he may have many virtues but his foreign policy interests are not necessarily identical to our own. ... Who knows what Franco-Russian deals he may be contemplating? From the EU's perspective, these negotiations are less about Georgia and more about seeking to build credibility as an international power broker. ... There will be a temptation, after the inevitable European humiliation, to pass the buck to other supranational institutions such as the G8 and the United Nations. This would be a mistake. ... The world has returned to 19th Century-style great power struggles between nation states, uninhibited by international institutions. With a risk that Russian will impose its will on other neighbours such as Ukraine in the future, we cannot rely on impotent organisations to keep the peace. ... Instead, it requires politicians here and the United States to wake up to their own national interests and take a tough line against Russian expansionism, which will be discouraged not by soft power but by strength." (09/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » France, » United Kingdom, » Russia, » Europe

Rzeczpospolita - Poland

The conservative daily Rzeczpospolita has harsh words for the roadmap for resolving the Caucasus crisis announced by Nicolas Sarkozy and Dmitry Medvedev: "Let's see ... how the EU has solved the conflict in the Caucasus. ... As a reward for separating a sovereign state, the EU has deepened its economic ties with Russia. In case Russia fancies separating Crimea from Ukraine in a few months, that conflict could be resolved just as effectively. Medvedev would declare himself in agreement, abandon the posts at Odessa and Kherson and pull the tanks out of Ukraine. But not out of Crimea, of course, because someone has to defend the Russian minority there. The EU would agree to such a resolution and the world would become more stable. But it will be most stable of all once Europe has agreed to Moscow entirely rebuilding the former Soviet Union - politically and geographically." (09/09/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Eastern Europe, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Marek Magierowski

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