Русская версияThe European Union as a body called on Friday for an immediate
ceasefire and a return to peace talks in the Georgian separatist
province of South Ossetia as fighting continued to rage in the
area.
The EU "calls all parties to cease hostilities immediately and to
resume talks without delay in order to permit a political solution
to the crisis while respecting the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Georgia," said a statement on behalf of the EU by the
French government, which currently holds the bloc's presidency.
The EU "fully supports the efforts of the presidency-in-office of
the OSCE (currently held by the Finnish government), including its
mission on the ground, and demands that all parties cooperate with
it," the statement added.
"The EU is working with other actors to
achieve a ceasefire in order to prevent an extension of the
conflict."
Germany
horrified by developments
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meanwhile called for an
"immediate stop" to all violence in South Ossetia.
"Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for prudence and moderation
from all sides of the conflict in South Ossetia and for an
immediate stop to all use of violence," her government said in a
statement.
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Steinmeier visited the region just a few weeks ago
"The government is in close agreement with its partners in the
European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe and NATO in this respect."
Germany heads a loose alliance known as the UN Group of Friends of
the Secretary General which has been trying to cool tensions
between Moscow and Tbilisi over Abkhazia, another breakaway
Georgian republic. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
visited Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia in July to present a peace
plan.
Foreign ministry officials said on Friday that Steinmeier had
spoken by phone with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Speaking at Cologne airport on Friday, Steinmeier said that he was
"horrified" by events in South Ossetia.
"While it's unclear at the moment who is responsible for this new
outbreak of violence, it's equally clear what our position must be:
There has to be an immediate end to fighting," he said, adding that
the fighting could end up turning into a "concrete war."
EU extremely concerned
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
The European Union is concerned by recent developments in Gerogia
Meanwhile, the EU Commission's spokesman, John Clancy, said that EU
officials were "extremely concerned" at the reports of heavy
fighting in the South Ossetian conflict zone.
The EU "deplores the loss of life," Clancy said. "The European
Commission calls for an immediate end to hostilities and for a
swift resumption to negotiations in the framework of existing
formats."
The 27-nation bloc "stands ready to increase its contribution to
conflict resolution in Georgia with confidence-building measures,"
he added.
"Dramatic escalation"
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner was "in
close contact" on the matter with both the French presidency of the
EU and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
chief, the EU Commission spokesman added.
Earlier a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
also called for an end to the hostilities.
"We are very concerned by the dramatic escalation of the
situation," Cristina Gallach said. "We are following it very
closely and we are in contact with all the parties. We renew the
appeal given Thursday by the head EU diplomat Javier Solana and
call on all parties to end the violence immediately."
OSCE sends envoy
NATO head Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Friday said he was "seriously
concerned" over the escalation and called "on all sides for an
immediate end of the armed clashes."
At an emergency session of the United Nations late on Thursday,
Russia failed to push through an agreement for an immediate halt to
fighting from both sides.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will
send a special envoy to Georgia immediately in a bid to kick start
negotiations, Finland, the current OSCE chairman, announced on
Friday.
(Deutsche Welle)
more info >>
<< Back