Comment: This aggression cancels 'business as usual'
The events of the last few days in Georgia have been shocking and disturbing. Hundreds have lost their lives and many more have been injured or forced to flee their homes. At the time of writing, a cessation of violence looks likely, but recent Russian actions cannot go without a concerted international diplomatic response. I will be in Brussels tomorrow with the Foreign Ministers of the other 26 EU member states for those talks.
In the Nineties new rules for national behaviour in and around Europe seemed to be agreed. But the frozen conflicts of Georgia have been held in delicate-balance. Whatever the rights or wrongs of tit-for-tat between the South Ossetians and the Georgian government, Russia has used grossly disproportionate force. It has violated the integrity of a democratic and sovereign neighbouring country. It continues operations even after the Georgians committed themselves to a ceasefire. And it has provoked an emerging humanitarian crisis, involving tens of thousands of displaced civilians.
Russia claims that its actions were driven by a need to avoid "genocide" in South Ossetia. If there is any shred of evidence for that claim, Russia needs to produce it now - otherwise it is hollow propaganda.
The countries bordering Russia are not " ex- Soviet space". They are sovereign nations with their own independent governments. That is why since the end of the Cold War, the EU and Nato have offered and developed new relationships with the countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Countries like Poland and Baltic States like Lithuania are now in the EU, with added stability as a result. Nato agreed in May that the goal for Ukraine and Georgia should be membership.
There is no military answer to Russia's aggression. But there are strong political reasons for Russia to accept the international call for a ceasefire and a return of all troops to their positions on 7 August. Russia came into the G8 in the Nineties, but G7 Ministers are agreed on the need to act without Russia when necessary. Russia wants membership of the WTO, but it needs to play by international rules. Russia sells energy to Europe, but a common European energy policy will give strength to the consumer rather than just the supplier. And Europe and Russia want a wideranging Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, but this needs all sides to play by the rules. Then there are Russia's wide-ranging aspirations for its relations with America. Business as usual is not compatible with Russian aggression in Georgia.
Russia has a new president. He is formally in charge of foreign policy. He has made "rule of law" his motif. Now is the time to show that he means what he says.
