Downing Street Says

Asked what the Prime Minister was hoping for today on Russia, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had made his views clear in a comprehensive way in his article in the Observer yesterday. In his view it was vital that we sent a strong and united European Union message today, and we must be clear in our support for Georgia s territorial integrity and in our condemnation of Russia s actions. Clearly what happened in August was a significant event, and in light of that it was right that the European Union in a calm, measured and fundamental way looked at Russia s overall relations with the EU, and that was what we would be calling for.

Asked about economic sanctions, the PMS replied that it was right that in light of Russia s actions we took a measured view of the overall relationship between the EU and Russia, and that was what we would be calling for.

Asked what constructive steps beyond sending a strong message and a show of unity could the EU actually take, the PMS replied that there were a number of constructive steps we could take in relation to supporting Georgia and helping them with their reconstruction. The Prime Minister in his article talked about calling for EU civilian monitors as quickly as possible in support of the OSCE effort in Georgia. We had also called for the consideration for appointing a senior political figure to coordinate the work in the EU and help them with their reconstruction in that way. In relation to Russia we are clear that in the light of Russian actions and in advance of the conclusion of the fundamental review of the EU s relation with Russia that we are calling for, that we should suspend negotiations on a successor to the partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia.

Put that Russia had said that economic sanctions would hurt the
EU more than they would hurt Russia, the PMS replied that we though that we needed to take a root and branch look at the EU s relationship with Russia. One issue that the Prime Minister also mentioned in his article was the fact that what had happened over the last month had strengthened the case for diversifying not only away from oil and gas, but away from dependence on Russian oil and gas. Again that was something that we were looking to discuss with our EU partners later today.

2 Comments »

The Prime Minister has not mentioned the fact that it was Georgia that attacked South Ossetia killing 2000 people. Why is that?
Could the PM also explain why the US wants to put nuclear missiles in Poland.
Comment by Neil Regan — 2 Sep 2008 on 6:31 am | Link
The reason[reponding to Mr Regan]that the PM along with all the mainstream media back the Georgian aggressors is the strong Israeli-Georgian connection.Apparently two,maybe three,Georgian government ministers hold Israeli passports,including the War minister.Almost all of their weaponry comes from Israel which also sent a thousand “advisors”to prepare the Georgian army for the invasion of Ossetia.So Israel,while continuing its evil oppression of the stone-throwing Palestinians,can still find the time to make mischief elsewhere.
Comment by b campbell — 4 Sep 2008 on 8:58 pm | Link

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» Monday, September 1, 2008

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