Jim Murphy

Minister for Europe

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Wednesday 13 August, 2008

Georgia Discussion in Brussels

I'm in Brussels discussing the situation in Georgia.  The 27 countries of the European Union were united in their grave concern about the recent developments.  Military actions are not a solution.  The war has led to heavy loss of life and inflicted widespread humanitarian suffering.

Foreign Ministers welcomed the EU mediation efforts and urged the parties to the conflict to respect the commitments they had made, starting with an effective ceasefire.  They reaffirmed that the European Union will work to support the observation mission on the ground, which is led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and provide essential aid for the humanitarian situation.

The crucial thing now is to make sure that the ceasefire holds and the humanitarian suffering is addressed.  Then we need meaningful talks about the future and strong international supervision of the process.

 

Posted at 19:05 13 August 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[4]

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The real problem is the president of Georgia Saashakalli, who led a illegal attack against Russian peacekeepers and Russian citizens, leading to 40,000 refugees and 2,000 killed. I would like to see a EU investigation of warcrimes and possible ethnic cleansing committed by the Georgian president. The Russian military actions were legal since the Georgian president had declared war. Thankfully the French president should logic and commonsense in pursuing a ceasefire. There is little evidence that the UK and US did anything worthwhile except protect a warmongeror.

Posted by Stu on August 14, 2008 at 03:51 PM BST #

The recent conflict between Russia and Georgia is a good example of why we do need part of the Lisbon reform treaty. The rotational presidency of the European Union is seriously flawed. Just imagine if Britain was the current EU president and President Sarkozy didnt go to Russia on behalf of the EU to bring about a ceasefire. The death toll would of been so much worse and wed probably be closer to world war 3 with some of the horrible rhetoric coming from the British government. There are 3 countries to blame for this crisis. Russia, Georgia and the United States of America. Trust Britain to side with the Americans :

Posted by Simon on August 17, 2008 at 09:05 AM BST #

Hello Jim - Re.: No additional visa restrictions for Russians While I fully condemn Russia’s action in Georgia, I am writing to highlight an ill-advised proposal that David Cameron raised during his BBC television interview in Georgia on Sunday 17 August 2008 that called for visa restrictions for Russian citizens entering the UK. Additional visa restrictions will have no impact on individuals in the Russian regime. Mr Cameron's proposal will impact: 1. UK businesses and houses sellers who are doing business with Russian buyers that are one of the biggest buyers of high end property in London and elsewhere in the UK. Every penny counts during a down turn on the High Street, and ordinary Russians are legitimate customers. 2. Russian citizens coming to the UK for a British education or to enjoy Britain and who Britain would lose influence over by isolating them. You may have heard a very recent BBC Radio 4 radio programme about an opera visiting London in 1968 during the Russian invasion of Prague. The programme noted that Russian people in the opera were opposed to and embarrassed by the Russian invasion. So why punish ordinary folk? 3. Russians already resident here who are more often than not opposed to the Kremlin. Therefore the all Parties should focus their efforts on the real decision makers in Moscow rather than taking a scatter gun approach, and encourage engagement with the general population of Russia. Yours sincerely Robert British Citizen

Posted by Rob on August 17, 2008 at 12:25 PM BST #

Hello, Jim Murphy - and all concerned with keeping an available common good from le bon Dieu. EU member-nationstate democracy has to remain inclusive of minority rights within also nationalist governance. Those all-security rights remain holy per se: to be respected by internal elected leaderships as well as by external vested interests. The EU's ESDP can posit optimal flexibility with effectiveness, but embedded in a cooperative CFSP. So - Holy Russia and Holy Nato should sanctify peace in our open homelands!

Posted by Stefan Peter. on September 03, 2008 at 10:40 AM BST #

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