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Cracks in EU unity on Russia
September 2, 2008
In Cold War times it was a rule of thumb that, whenever the Soviet Union’s behaviour was particularly bullying, the US and western Europe would put aside their differences and close ranks in reaction. Conversely, when Moscow was less threatening, there was less pressure for complete unity in the western alliance. France (Charles de Gaulle), West Germany (Willy Brandt) and the US (Richard Nixon) each sought benefits for their own countries from closer contacts with the Soviet leadership.
For all the European Union’s show of unity on Monday at its emergency summit in Brussels, the crisis over Russia’s destruction of Georgia’s territorial integrity clearly hasn’t reached the point at which all the Europeans are with each other in heart and soul. The explanation isn’t hard to find.
Today’s 27-nation EU is a very different creature from the European Community of the 1970s and 1980s, which started with six members and still had only 12, all in western Europe, by the end of the Cold War. It is the inclusion of Austria, Finland and Sweden in the 1990s and, above all, of 10 former communist bloc countries since 2004 that has made the difference.
Take the remarks made at Monday’s summit by the leaders of Poland and Austria. In what was a clear reference to the Germans, Italians and others, Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, complained: “There are politicians, even in Europe, who would prefer empty conclusions because of their intensive bilateral relations with Russia.”
By contrast, Alfred Gusenbauer, Austria’s chancellor, was adamant: “I’m against any kind of escalation.” Russia and the EU, he said, have “strategic reasons for reasonable co-operation”.
The summit saw a gap between countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - all former Soviet satellites - and France, Germany and Italy. The former group sympathises strongly with Georgia, whereas the latter trio is highly critical of Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian leader, and enjoy flourishing trade and investment relationships with Russia that they have no wish no jeopardise.
However, it would be wrong to assume that the eastern Europeans are hotheads pressing for some kind of showdown with Moscow. Not at all. Geographically, they are on the frontline. They are, for the most part, small states. Two are extremely small and have restive Russian minorities. Open confrontation is even less in their interests than it is in those of France or Germany.
Rather, the eastern Europeans are drawing on their experience of Soviet behaviour to alert their western European partners to the need to respond firmly when Russia crosses the line, as all EU countries say it has done in Georgia. Their alarm is understandable because Georgia is part of the same former sphere of Russian control to which they once belonged. “Who will be next?” they are thinking.
However, economic or even tough diplomatic sanctions against Russia were never going to be announced at the summit. The EU is not a military alliance or even a regional policeman for Europe. Its common foreign and security policy is a work in progress, not a solid fact. Negotiation, partnership and a knack for fashioning ingenious compromises out of nothing are the EU’s very spirit and life force.
The only problem is that Russia, in its present mood, may not be especially susceptible to this type of approach.
The Russian elites have watched there European counterparts dog along behind two American military adventures in Europe. The second involved the death of Russian soldiers. ‘ not especially
Posted by: Chri | September 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am | Report this commentsusceptible to this type of approach’ is a gross understatement. Supine European elites have brought war back to mainland Europe. One more American adventure and there will be a very large smoking hole marking a spot previously occupied by Europe.
There is a need for a balanced approach with regard to Russia. Russia is a very important partner for Europe. There is TOO much hearing from the Georgian side and not enough from other actors. How can the EU think that it can play any constructive part in this crisis when it has taken a side in favor of Georgia?
I disagree in that the Eastern European member states ARE looking to abuse Community institutions to settle old scores and vendettas against Russia when it was the Soviet Union. The cooler heads did prevail, but the 1997 agreement, overdue for renewal, must be RENEW and updated to include more crisis management. Now, it is in the best interests of all, Europe, Russia and the rest of the world, to bring Russia into the process. There needs to be some European policy to end the Cold War and it begins by restraining the East European member states!
Also, what about the South Ossetians and their stake in all of this?
Posted by: ESLaPorte | September 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm | Report this commentRussia is not a very important partner for Europe. Some countries are very dependent in the short-term with Russia..
Posted by: fanci | September 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm | Report this commentBut Russia can be easily replaced in 2/3 year’s time with let’s say a Turkey/Iran/Iraq corridor..
So the price of not cooperating is mostly bad for the stock exchanges and some investments (like Shroeder’s North Stream) and so on.. But Europe has more serious things to solve before ‘getting on well’ with Russia.
Russia is still the declining power it was and has little to offer.
I can never imagine a Germany who dare to risk their Wochenend Kultur and blue sky for a war with no matter who.
Posted by: hg | September 2nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm | Report this commentRussia is only defending its interests around the border, that’s all. NATO was created after WWII to counter USSR, but USSR doesn’t exist now and all the Russian troops had been withdrawn from Europe. So, then why does NATO still want to build military bases in Ukrain and Georgia? Because of Iran? Come on…
Posted by: Artem Ivaschenko | September 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm | Report this commentjust watch interview with Vladimir Putin on CNN.com
Russia needs to press on with its Eastern Pipeline project and get it operational on schedule in late 2009. This way Russia can be free from the EU’s bullying and attempts by the Brussels to use imports of Russian hydrocarbons as a political weapon against Russia. Asia offers more lucrative and stable markets that don’t come with too many political strings attached to them.
Posted by: Veniamin Nikolayev | September 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm | Report this commentThe EU can unite a lot more easily if European leaders do not run scared over empty threats. I have just read the latest ECFR article about Russia’s gas and oil threats, which are clearly overblown: http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/russia_threats_are_just_gas/
Posted by: Milos Borojic | September 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm | Report this commentThose former communist bloc countries that have joined NATO are really stupid. Why not become a country of neutrality (like Switzerland)? Because they are in the front row, by joining NATO, they are asking to be bombed first. It’s extremely stupid, and Poland and Czech are the most stupid.
Posted by: WW | September 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm | Report this commentI tend to agree with ESLaPorte. Europe depends on Russia for energy; Russia depends on Europe (tho to a lesser degree) for financial services, oil-related services and IT-related hardware and software. So, there is a trading partnership, with win-win opportunities.
The very basis of the EU is to prevent wars between its member states through trade. I had hoped the proposed partnership agreement with Russia might lead to a similar status?
Georgia’s stupid actions show how unsuitable they would be in NATO, never mind the EU!
The EU “consensus” decision on Russia was in keeping with how the EU leaders have always made their big decisions; and I have no problem with it. How else can you reconcile such widely disparate views? There have been enough “off-camera” comments to let Russia know both what little they need to do and the consequences of not doing so. The ball is now in their court - but I anticipate they will string this one out.
Posted by: Derek Tunnicliffe | September 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm | Report this commentRussia is defending freedom and democracy in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The peoples there have voted in two referendums to leave Georgia. According to US/EU standards, the Georgia president Saakashvili is now an international war criminal, who committed ethnic cleaning crimes against the people of South Ossetia. He should be charged for crimes against humanity.
…oops…oops…
Posted by: freedom fighter | September 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm | Report this commentGetting gas or oil from Russia may be easier for EU states, but they should seek other alternatives.
Russia is not playing with the same rules as they thought and recent developments show this. Russia never changed and it is the same Soviet style country as it was during cold war.
Europe relaxed after Soviet Union collapsed but actually Russia gained more strength and is ready to strike back. There is not friendship or partnership with Russia. This is a rough state and people from Eastern Europe know this.
Probably very soon you will read “Russia invades Ukraine” headline and I am sure EU will say, “Oh we do not want any escalations” and some stupid critics will say “oh thanks god Ukraine was not in NATO or we should have responded to Russia”.
Now is the time to STOP RUSSIA!!!
Posted by: Irakli | September 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm | Report this commentwww.sosgeorgia.org
TO Derek Tunnicliffe:
I’m sorry to see that you are victim of Russian soviet style war propaganda.
What kind of Democracy are you talking about in S. Ossetia and Abkhazia? :))
Are you talking about those 500 000 Georgians who were cleansed from Abkhazia by Russian forces and Abkhazian militias in early 90’s?
Or do you mean those Georgians who are right now expelled from their homes and their towns looted, burnt in S.Ossetia?!
Do you know what is Russian style Democracy?
I wish you to experience it. I am sure you will not enjoy it.
As for ethnic criminals: Do you remember Chechnya? Oh of course not!!! To reshuffle your knowledge about war criminals, Mr. Putin had two bloody wars in Chechnya and killed whole generation of ethnic Chechnya’s. Refuges who could escape from Chechnya are sheltering right now in eastern Georgia by the way. They will tell you better who is a war criminal.
Do you remember Ingushetia? you probably need to reshuffle that as well!
Back to Georgia’s crisis, S.Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia and legalizing those as separate state will be the same as to legalize ethnic cleansing. This is very very dangerous precedent and international community should be aware of this
STOP RUSSIA
Posted by: Irakli | September 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm | Report this commentwww.sosgeorgia.org
It’s strange how most posters on various sites about this situation all agree with Russia, me too. I have had enough myself of the US and then the EU sucking up to NATO expansion on the pretext of its needed. What happend to that agreement stating they would never encroach upon Eastern Europe and so forth. I guess NATO can just do what it pleases right without any comeback from the ‘democratic’ western leaders lol.
For far too long Europe has allowed the US to get too big for its boots its about time at least one country starting protecting its interests. The US certainly protects hers. Iraq,Vietnam,Afghanistan,Serbia,Japan,etc etc Iran?. They tore the heart out of Serbia and gave it Muslim invaders, so does that mean in the future when say Yorkshire in the UK becomes majority Muslim they can demand independence does it?. The US insticated this precedent and they sure as hell can live with it. The US the biggest genicidal lunatics in the world and if the ‘Western States’ turn the other cheek, well we already know that don’t we.
Posted by: Robert | September 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm | Report this commentSouth Ossetia is a part of Georgia, NOT a separate country. The name “South Ossetia” was introduced by Stalin in 1921, before this beautiful part of Georgia was called as Samachablo. Stalin introduced this name as the tool to threaten Georgians in case of collapse of Soviet Empire (in the same times appeared term of North Ossetia, as part of Russian federation). It is amazing, that today nobody puts the question, had ever South Ossetia and North Ossetia been the parts of one unitary State by name of Ossetia? To answer on this question one must not read many books, it’s sufficient to look on the map. Does anyone knows the example of one unitary state which is located on both part of such high and cold mountain as Caucasus? How the people of this two part of unitary state had been communicated with each other in the centuries before?
To understand the situation in Georgia let us consider the folloving situation. If Kentucky decided to try and sucede from the United States and US sent in troops to stop them and then Canada invaded US and sent tanks/troops all the way to Florida, would that be bad manners on US part as well? Georgia was more than willing to let Ossetia govern itself as a part of Georgia as a whole, but Russia kept inciting the Ossetians to rebel. Georgia has every right to use their military to bring control over their own country and Russia has no business getting involved.
Posted by: Zaza | September 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm | Report this commentEuropean countries that have “bilateral relations” with Russia and argue for cooperation with Russia should realize that Russia is not playing by the same rules as EU. Russia is not interested in cooperation in the European sense; a phrase like “win-win situation” does not translate into Russian and it is extremely difficult to explain the meaning of this phrase to any government official or a businessman in Russia (I tried). In the mentality left from Soviet times, in any two-way interaction (trade, diplomatic, whatever) one side wins and the other loses; any other interaction most people cannot imagine.
Posted by: PV | September 3rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm | Report this commentRussia will honor whatever bilateral agreements it has with European countries when it suits them and will stop honoring them when it does not. Want examples of this? How about recent BP’s difficulties in Russia? Or the problems Shell ran into with their Sakhalin project? Or the interruptions of energy supplies to eastern European countries (which had long-term agreements with Russia about energy supplies, by the way)? Or have you forgotten the whole Yukos affair?
When other European-Russian joint ventures or foreign investments of European companies in Russia are expropriated (through a court decision because they failed to pay some taxes or comply with some regulations, of course), it will be too late to do something about Russia. Then you might recall that there were warning signs (Yukos, BP and others)…
The new eastern European members of EU know this, so they are warning the rest of Europe while there is still time. The Europe should listen to them.
Hey Irakli, I suggest you read what I actually wrote in my post not what you thought I was saying. I have never (nor would I ever) call Russia a democracy. And I am as much horrified at what has happened in Chechnya (not even sure that’s a place I’d like to visit soon).
Georgia was hot-headed in responding so violently to a bit of Russian provocation when it marched into S Ossetia. Just the excuse the Russian’s were looking for. Oh, and both sides were guilty of dropping a few cluster-bombs it seems - not a way to win over the local populace, whichever side you’re on.
Sadly, the roots of this dispute (and, who knows, more?) lie in the US and EU reactions to Russia after the Berlin wall came down. There inaction at the time paved the way for the old USSR-style hardliners. However, since we have to deal with the world as it is, my final comment still stands: Russia will string this out as long as it can.
Posted by: Derek Tunnicliffe | September 3rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm | Report this commentI forgot to mention one other, important point.
In Ossetia, Russia decided to issue passports to Russian-speaking (leaning?) citizens on that province. They are doing the same in S Ukraine. Hoping for an excuse to invade there, too? Oh, and Russia have indicated they may need to “put the Cauacasus in order”.
The bear is prowling around its old haunts and is itching for fights, it seems.
Posted by: Derek Tunnicliffe | September 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm | Report this commentDear All
I just wanted to say that after Dubrovka (where the Moscow Theater hostage crisis took place) one of the terrorists is working now for Putin,in his office..
In Poland we call it Controlled Terrorist Attack.
Regards
Posted by: Marcin | September 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm | Report this commentM.
Saakashvili is a political corpse. The person, on hands at which is so much blood, cannot head the state and cannot carry on any negotiations. He is the small tyrant who was brought up by Americans on Southern Caucasus. On light there are no bad nations and the bad people, there are bad politicians. The debt of normal people – to get rid of such politicians.
Posted by: Oseden | September 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm | Report this commentThe Prime minister of Russia Vladimir Putin has declared that waits from new American administration of improvement of relations with Russia. He has underlined that the United States have spoilt these relations, “let and improve”.
Speaking about actions of the USA in South Ossetia, Vladimir Putin has underlined: “that the Georgian army has been armed by our American partners, is already medical fact, anybody at all does not challenge it. That the American instructors tried to train the Georgian army, is too the fact which is not challenged by anybody”. The prime minister has reminded that the American citizens for any reasons have appeared in a safety zone where according to the international arrangements there could be only three categories of citizens – local residents, peacemakers and observers of OSCE.
“We have received documentary acknowledgement according to which in this zone there were American citizens who do not fall under one of these three categories. And the deputy chief of the Joint Staff of the Russian army has shown a copy of the passport of one of these American citizens to representatives of the press. Certainly, we would like to know that this citizen and other citizens of the United States did in this zone”, - the head of the government has added.
Also Vladimir Putin has reminded, as in the beginning of the Georgian military operation “all free press of our western partners” amicably was silent. In its opinion, the European and American mass-media waited that the Georgian aggression could end with positive result. “And two days, it was not clear yet, than it will end, all amicably, as if on command, were silent, and then as is amicable, as if on command, - and I think, what exactly on command, - have started to accuse Russia of inadequacy of application of force. It concerns not only the European press, but also American too”. The prime minister has added that already then when the Russian army has effectively started to operate, all propaganda machine has been turned in other party. “You wish me to convince what this unbiased interpretation of events? It is not necessary”, - the prime minister cut off.
Posted by: Oseden | September 14th, 2008 at 11:26 am | Report this comment