Pöttering: EU must send Russia ‘clear message’

European parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering has called on EU leaders to speak with a “single voice” and to act “decisively” in dealing with Moscow over the crisis in Georgia.

Pöttering, addressing EU leaders at the start of an emergency in Brussels on Monday, said the crisis in Georgia was “the worst threat to security we have seen” since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“We have no reason to paint a rosy picture,” Pöttering told journalists at a press briefing immediately after delivering his speech to EU leaders, adding that Russia had breached the principles of international law, and behaved in an “irresponsible manner,” by invading Georgia.

The German MEP told EU leaders that “On the basis of our system of laws and values this is unacceptable both to the international community and to the EU.”

Commenting on Moscow’s recognition of the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the president argued that Georgia’s territorial integrity could not “be called into question by means of unilateral decisions taken in Moscow.”

Pöttering said despite the fact that the crisis represented a “major challenge” and “decisive test” of the EU’s political cohesiveness, the situation called for an appropriate EU response.

“The EU must now speak to Russia with a single voice and act decisively: we must uphold our positions with determination and at the same time be prepared for dialogue,” he said.

“Dialogue and cooperation with Russia must be based on shared values, in particular respect for human rights and the principles which govern dealings within the international community.”

Today’s European Council offers the EU a major opportunity to act in concert, to send a clear message to Russia.”

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