Russia backs EU, not U.S., role in Georgia

[Heidi]

Source: Reuters

Wed Aug 5, 2009 4:32am EDT

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow welcomes the work of EU monitors in Georgia, deployed in the Caucasus state a year ago after the Russian invasion, but is opposed to the United States having a role, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

In a brief war last August, Russia crushed Georgia's attempt to retake its rebel province of South Ossetia. Moscow has recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another rebel region of Abkhazia, taking them under its security umbrella.

Under a peace deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the European Union has sent 240 unarmed monitors to Georgia to oversee a fragile ceasefire. Georgia now wants the United States to join the monitoring.

"The presence of EU monitors on Georgian territories bordering South Ossetia and Abkhazia is an important stabilizing factor and we support such a presence," Lavrov told state-run television channel Vesti-24.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5741LC20090805

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Related Latest Breaking News thread:
Russian troops on high readiness in South Ossetia

[provis99]

1. tough luck, Saakashvili

You poked the Russian bear with a stick, so quit squealing to us when the bear swipes you with his paws.

[Lasher]

2. I support a not US role in Georgia. n/t

[newfie11]

3. Good, let the EU do it.

We need to back off.

[Vidar]

4. Good for Russia. We deserve no credibility.

[pampango]

5. Take Russia up on it. I doubt that they really want an EU role in Georgia long term.

Bolster the EU's role there, keep the US out. Russia probably thinks the EU will be easier to deal with long term, but they may be in for a surprise, particularly since Russia's has essentially legitimized the EU's presence there.

When your competitor makes a mistake, take advantage of it. If Russia does eventually reverse course and take advantage of the EU's weakness, it will be a lesson learned and still preferable to the consequences of an American presence there.