Posted on 08/10/2008 12:58:54 PM PDT by lizol
Russia's neighbours put on edge by war threat
(AFP)
10 August 2008
WARSAW - The conflict between Georgia and Russia has stunned eastern European nations who can still feel the scars of their domination by the former Soviet Union.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland called on the European Union and NATO to oppose Russia's "imperialist" policy towards Georgia.
And even countries such as Sweden, which was not part of the Soviet bloc, expressed extreme concern at the conflict, making comparisons to Adolf Hitler's tactics as leader of Nazi Germany.
Russia has in turn been vocal in criticising neighbours such as Ukraine, which it accused of "encouraging" Georgia to attack the separatist region of South Ossetia.
"The EU and NATO must take the initiative and stand up against the spread of imperialist and revisionist policy in the east of Europe," the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said in a joint statement.
The four said they "strongly condemn" Russia's actions over South Ossetia, which is recognised internationally as part of Georgia, but where the separatist government gets strong backing from Moscow.
The four former members of the Soviet bloc said that following Russia's "unilateral" military action they would use "all means available to us as presidents to ensure that aggression against a small country in Europe will not be passed over in silence."
"The Russian Federation has overstepped a red-line in keeping the peace and stability in the conflict zone and in protecting Russian citizens outside its own borders."
Poland has demanded the European Union hold an emergency summit on the Russia-Georgia crisis, a request which EU leaders are now considering. EU foreign ministers are to meet to discuss the crisis early in the week.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: "The territorial integrity of Georgia is currently being violated on an enormous scale."
"There are bombardments, civilians are dying, foreign military forces are on Georgian territory."
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has also called for a "very strong response on the part of the European Union," Sweden's TT news agency reported.
"No state has the right to intervene militarily in the territory of another state simply because there are individuals there with a passport issued by that state or who are nationals of the state," Bildt said in a statement.
"Attempts to apply such a doctrine have plunged Europe into war in the past... And we have reason to remember how Hitler used this very doctrine little more than half a century ago to undermine and attack substantial parts of central Europe," Bildt said.
Estonia also expressed concern at Russia's justification that it was acting to protect Russians in South Ossetia.
"When military aggression is justified with the need to protect the interests of Russian citizens in Georgia, it causes a serious concern for states that have residents with Russian citizenship," Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in a statement.
"Once again Russia has shown it can not fit to the peacekeeping role in that region," Paet added.
Estonia called on UN Security Council, EU and other international organisations to take urgent action "to end the aggression of Russia against Georgia and to avoid the escalation of the conflict to the neighboring regions."
Poland, the biggest of the former Soviet bloc nations in the European Union, has been a strong supporter of Georgia's ambitions to join the EU and NATO.
Ukraine, another close ally of Georgia, has called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgian territory and said it was ready to act as a mediator between the two sides.
But Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of "encouraging" Georgia to launch its military offensive in South Ossetia.
"The Ukrainian state has in recent times actively armed Georgian troops, encouraging Georgian leaders to proceed with an intervention and ethnic purges in South Ossetia," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine "has no moral right to give sermons to others and above all to pretend it has a settlement role" in the conflict, said the ministry statement.
OMG! Europe is waking up! This is good.
Eastern Europe which suffered from the Russian yoke. Certainly not the nitwits in Paris and Berlin.
Ukraine said today that it would not allow any of the Black Sea Fleet vessels of the Russian NAvy taking part in the blockade of Georgia back itno their home port of Sevastapol, whcih happens to be owned by the Ukraine. That's a big deal and big "up yours" to the Russians.
Bush agreeing to let US Air Force transport aircraft (hopefull well escorted) return the Georgian troops from Iraq back to Georgia is a gutsy call and another "up yours" to Putin, daring him toi try and stop it.
Dicey, dangerous situation, but one calling for direct action adn shows of force to try and contain the grab Russia is making under the aauspice of protecting a few thousand people in Georgia who would rather be part of Russia.
Also, as much as Europ has to dissect and come to terms with this re-emergent bully in Russia, the US, in choosing a President has to choose one who is capable of confronting it. Quite frankly, Barack Hussein Obama would be chewed up and spit out as an appetizer to breakfast by the likes of Putin.
EU foreign ministers will meet early next week to discuss ways to resolve the crisis, French President Nicolas Sarkozys office said in an e-mailed statement from Paris yesterday.
http://www.bloombrg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPLDNxutvt7M&refer=home
ping
The EU propaganda machine is is playing fast and loose with its own history. Wasn`t this the same bunch who had no trouble bombing a sovereign country (Yugoslavia) when claims of independence were being made there. As recently as Kosovo we have an example of the utter hypocrisy of the world order as the EU sees it. What`s worse is that Yugoslavia never did a damn thing to the west and indeed was always inclined to the West. Sorry if I don`t jump on this bandwagon.
And by the way, 98-99% of the South Ossetian people VOTED for independence in 2006 in a largely EUROPEAN supervised vote. So stop the analogies to Hitler EU hypocrites.
Informative post, Jeff— thank you.
“Bush agreeing to let US Air Force transport aircraft (hopefull well escorted) return the Georgian troops from Iraq back to Georgia is a gutsy call and another “up yours” to Putin, daring him toi try and stop it.”
There we have it. Bush is getting us in. His intel must have revealed that S. Ossetia was just an excuse. FReepers’ instincts were apparently correct. FRegards ....
Sooner or later...
Well, Kosovo was a bad mistake, a stupid and basically criminal decision on our part, not a legitimate precedent.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Undo them both.
The EU and NATO were caught up in a media lie regarding Kosovo— I agree. I opposed Kosovo before it was even tried. [Many FReepers did.] It was the first time I disagreed with Paul Weyrich. He later saw that the Islamo-terrorists [KLA] were taking over and changed his mind.
Kosovo was one of the worse misuses of our military since Sherman’s March— perhaps the worst of all. FRegards ....
I think that covers it all, doesn't it Lent?
Don't hold your breath, Carl.
I think this is covered - the South Ossetian`s voted 98-99% for independence - in a vote supervised by European members. These people declared their independence in the early 90`s and indeed it has been semi-autonomous since then. Now to me, if Russia is merely capitalizing on a country favourably inclined to her that`s principled hardball. If they had simply invaded South Ossetia without regard to the independence question and Georgian actions then that is another matter entirely and would be worthy of condemnation. This is not worthy of condemnation.
“Bush is getting us in. Are you saying that Georgians might not be the only departees from our planes?”
No, I was referring to the quote that our planes are flying their troops in. Sorry if I caused you to panic.
No panic, don’t worry. Well, if our guys aren’t going to stay, I do hope they give the Georgians some lovely parting gifts..wink wink.
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