EU must defend the territorial integrity of Georgia

Strasbourg, 16th December 2009

Strasbourg, 16th December 2009 -- Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament last night, European Conservatives and Reformists chairman Michal Kaminski MEP, called on the EU to regain some credibility in its talks with Georgia by standing up to Russian aggression.

The ECR group secured a debate and a statement from the Council of Ministers and Commission on the situation in Georgia. Speaking in the debate, Mr Kaminski said:

"Quite rightly we are talking about democracy, and lecturing President Saakashvili on the changes he has to make in his country - he has already done a great deal. Georgia now and Georgia two years ago are very different countries.

"But yet we don't mention that large parts of Georgian territory are currently occupied by Russian tanks. If any of you thought that Russian tanks brought democracy to any place in the world then you are kidding yourselves.

"In talking about Georgia, the council mentioned the word Russia only once and yet Russia is the key to the situation in Georgia. I'm not saying everything in Georgia is ideal but the Russians are laughing in our faces by not delivering on the six point plan that was mediated by the EU and President Sarkozy. Why are there still Russian forces in the village of Perevi? Has this been raised with the Russians?

"If we believe in the need for human rights, democracy, tolerance and freedom of speech - like me - do we really think that Russia is promoting those values in Georgia today? Do we think that Russian tanks are in Georgia fighting for democracy? No, I believe it is a case of brutal imperialism and I think the EU should resist it.

"Otherwise we will have no credibility in our conversations with our Georgian friends when we tell them that there is a great deal that still needs to be done. I want their country to live up to European standards but we can't point the finger at Georgia when we have Russia - a country where inconvenient journalists are murdered, where hate speech towards neighbours and minorities is the official language of Russian politicians and the Russian media. We have to say no to that because it will give us credibility when we talk to Georgia about democracy.

"I appeal to the EU in the name of the values that we all share, let us defend firmly the territorial integrity of Georgia against Russian aggression."


Contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

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