The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament Declared September 1, 2008, that:
Georgia-Russia: Dialogue must remain open.

{Above makes sense - but is not in the EU hands -BUT IN THE PROCESS FURTHER INFORMATION (was also) RELEASED - SOME FURTHER ASTONISHING INFORMATION THAT INVOLVES THE EU DIRECTLY - THE EU FAVORED THOSE GEORGIANS THAT GOT RUSSIAN PASSPORTS!}

The European Parliament is debating the crisis in Georgia this evening in Brussels in parallel to an emergency summit of the European Council on the same topic.

Liberals and Democrats have welcomed the quick initial response of the French Presidency and urged the European Union to speak with one distinctive voice.

Graham Watson MEP, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, said:
“Dialogue and engagement will defuse tensions more effectively than isolation. That is the lesson of the cold war.

“The EU should now take three firm measures moving forward:

there should be a crisis management and Reconstruction Fund and the rapid deployment of international humanitarian assistance,

the Council should designate an EU representative to Georgia who will make both sides listen,

and the EU should explore the possibility of sending an ESDP mission with a pro-active role in mediating between the two sides.

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“One problem the Union must fix immediately is the glaring anomaly whereby Georgian citizens who take up the offer of Russian passports are given freer access to Europe than those who do not.”

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Marco Cappato (IT, Radicale), who is negotiating the text of the resolution on behalf of ALDE added:
“For many years Georgia has been expressing its dream of being part of the European family, but the EU has been incapable of offering a European federal strategy. In so doing, the EU has reinforced nationalism in the Caucasus and played into the hands of the Russian regime.”

Lydie Polfer MEP (DP, Luxembourg) was responsible for drafting the European Parliament’s report on the South Caucasus earlier this year in which she warned of the potential for conflict due to the unresolved border disputes in the region:

“It is unacceptable and in breach of international commitments for two Member countries of the OSCE and Council of Europe to resort to military means against each other. Both Russia and Georgia bear responsibility for the escalation of the recent violence in the South Caucasus.”

“I am however encouraged by the speed and willingness of the European Union to engage in brokering a peaceful end to the dispute which augurs well for the future development of the common foreign and security policy. But more needs to be done to build lasting stability in the region and preventing further outbreaks of violence”.

Link to Polfer report adopted 17 January 2008:
 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file….