The EU's dithering in the Caucasus conflict

The daily Der Standard criticises the way the EU is conducting the negotiations in the Caucasus conflict: "Welcome to the 'softie' EU. The Georgians and the inhabitants of those countries Moscow euphemistically refers to as its 'close foreign countries' and which Russia in fact regards as one big training ground for its army on its western borders - Ukraine, the Baltic states, Moldova and the oil republic of Azerbaijan - are no doubt rubbing their eyes in amazement at the foreign ministers' decision for a ceasefire in the Caucasus. After careful and lengthy consideration the European Union has decided to send 'observers'. Meanwhile, for Georgia every second counts now. ... Russia is being allowed to dictate its conditions for peace in the Caucasus because the Europeans - and the Americans - are unwilling to oppose its claim to power. ... In the past few years the leaders of the EU were always happy to point to Georgia as a model of Europe's neighbour policy and in speeches about a 'transit corridor' between Central Asia and Europe for the EU's energy security. Only the Eastern Europeans who have already had their experiences with the Soviet Union, and Great Britain, which has no illusions about the nature of the new Russia, are prepared to show solidarity with Georgia. Ukraine has now restricted the movement of the Russian fleet in Crimea. What the Georgians want now is a concrete sign of solidarity."

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