EU leaders condemn Russia at summit

12 April 2012

European Union leaders moved to condemn Russia's invasion of Georgia but stopped short of imposing sanctions on Moscow.

An emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels denounced the "disproportionate" Russian action and the Kremlin's "unacceptable" recognition of the two breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia at the centre of the conflict.

The leaders did agree to a call by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to freeze negotiations with Moscow on a new EU-Russia strategic partnership but offered little else by way of concrete action.

Mr Brown said the unusual step of calling an emergency summit was in itself "an immensely important signal" of the EU's determination to ensure justice for Georgia.

Emergency summits have only previously been held over the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"While we do want good relations with Russia, I think it is pretty clear from what has happened over the last few weeks it cannot be business as usual," Mr Brown told reporters.

"Indeed, it will not be business as usual until things improve."

In the final communique, the leaders agreed that the EU-Russia strategic partnership talks, due to resume this month, would be postponed pending a "careful, in-depth examination" of relations with Moscow.

"With the crisis in Georgia, relations between the EU and Russia have reached a crossroads," it said.

"We call on Russia to join with us in making this fundamental choice in favour of mutual interest, understanding and co-operation. We are convinced that it is in Russia's own interest not to isolate itself from Europe."

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