Europe
US and Ukraine take tough stance on Georgia crisis; EU postpones discussion on sanctions against Russia for a month
George W. Bush has ordered US military forces into Georgia, in order to lead a 'vigorous' humanitarian mission. Meanwhile, the EU yesterday agreed to send non-military "monitors" - but only on the condition that the move is first approved by the UN. The FT notes that "The fudge was necessary not only to maintain the support of the Russians but also to bridge the widening gap separating EU partners." The article says that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner succeeded in his attempt to "kick the idea of repercussions against Russia into the long grass".
Britain is said to have lined up with the former-communist camp of countries - AFP reports that UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband questioned whether a proposed EU-Russia partnership agreement should go ahead. Kouchner is quoted as saying "Miliband was listened to (on the subject of Russian relations) several times, with great interest, and we have satisfied his concerns." The issue of sanctions against Russia will be discussed at another foreign ministers' meeting - in a month's time.
The AFP article reports on the divergence between EU members on the issue. "There was clearly disproportionate force used by the Russians," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, however, said it would be unproductive to point the finger at Russia now. "I do not think we should get lost today in long discussions about responsibility or who caused the escalation of the last few days," he said.
The FT reports that Ukraine yesterday announced restrictions on use of the Crimean port of Sevastopol by Russia's Black Sea Fleet. The surprise decree by Ukraine's pro-western President requires Russian naval vessels to request permission 10 days in advance before returning to the strategically important port, which Russia leases from Ukraine.
A separate article in the paper reports that talks on building part of a US missile defence shield on Polish soil restarted on Wednesday, with Polish officials keen to push ahead with the plan in light of Russia's Georgian intervention. Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said this week: "The Georgian issue shows that in the generally understood area of the former Soviet bloc, real security guarantees are important."
The IHT has an account of the negotiations between Sarkozy, Medvedev, and Saakashvili. The article notes that the inclusion of terms allowing the Russians to use "additional security measures", even outside the separatist enclaves, has allowed Russia to push deeper into Georgia. This is hugely important, as allowing Russian troops to stay in Gori gives them control of the main east-west road through the country, isolating the capital, Tbilisi, from the Black Sea coast and cutting off important supply routes. The article notes, "Sarkozy, according to a senior Georgian official who witnessed the negotiations, also failed to persuade the Russians to agree to any time limit on their military action".
FT BBC IHT IHT2 Spectator Coffee House blog FT Telegraph leader FT Telegraph Hannan FT AFP AFP 2 AFP 3 BBC Deutsche Welle WSJ Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welle 2
Barroso: Enlargement continues without Lisbon Treaty
The Café Babel website has a readers' Q & A session with Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. He denies that the Commission got involved in the referendum campaign in Ireland, saying "The European commission cannot lead an electoral campaign in Ireland - there are even legal obstacles to that." Regarding continued enlargement following the Irish No vote he says, "for the time being nobody is affected: the enlargement process consists of ongoing negotiations." Furthermore he says that the Commission is working to "remove the regulatory and other obstacles for a European public opinion to emerge through the single market, which I today would rather call the citizens' space, because it goes beyond business and economics."
Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on BBC Radio 4 earlier in the week, discussing the flaws of the EU's farms subsidies.
Eurozone on the brink of recession
Economic figures are showing signs of recession in the Eurozone, with negative GDP growth in the second quarter in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Ireland. This is reported to be happening for the first time since the creation of the euro in 1999. A comment in Le Figaro says it is now clear that Europe and Asia will not escape the consequences of the American crisis.
EU warns Mauritania junta that it faces isolation
An EU statement yesterday condemned the recent military coup in Mauritania as "completely unlawful". The Union, Mauritania's biggest aid donor, warned that if the previous government and institutional framework was not restored, the country would be at risk of "long-term isolation in the international arena".
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