EU in hurry to launch Georgia mission before deadline

Meeting in Brussels on 15 September, EU foreign ministers are expected to commit to sending a 200-strong observer mission to Georgia before 1 October, as any delay would give Russia an excuse not to withdraw from territories in Georgia proper and render the EU-brokered peace plan meaningless.

Sending personnel to the region on time is the number one priority, so any details or ambiguities can be dealt with at a later stage, EU diplomats told EURACTIV. The peace plan brokered on 8 September during French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s trip to Moscow and Tbilisi (EURACTIV 09/09/08) provides for the EU to send at least 200 observers, by 1 October at the latest, to a buffer zone bordering South Ossetia and Abkazia on the territory of Georgia proper. 

Diplomats explained that several EU countries were expected to send “gendarmerie”-type effectives, because such forces are most suited to quick deployment. Several countries have already expressed their readiness to contribute with observers, with Germany committing itself to send about 40 people. 

Over time, the mission is expected to evolve and member countries will have time to send more adequately specialised personnel. EU countries hope that in future the observers will also be able to conduct observations inside South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Russia currently opposes (EURACTIV 11/09/08). 

The observers may only carry firearms for personal protection and are not expected to intervene in case of riots or conduct arrests, this being the task of the Georgian police. For the time being, it has not been decided what colour uniforms the observers will wear. On a similar mission in the former Yugoslavia in the early nineties, the European Commission Monitoring Mission (ECMM) wore white uniforms with the EU flag on their lapel. 

It is not clear either what the chain of command will be with respect to the UN and OSCE missions already operating in Georgia, sources admitted. Diplomats also voiced some apprehension about expected obstructions by the Russian side, with Moscow known to use protocol or procedure to complicate Western actions. 

EU ministers are also expected to agree on the appointment of an EU special representative for the crisis in Georgia, as detailed in the conclusions of the extraordinary EU Council on 1 September. However difficult the job may be, several countries have named candidates, diplomats said, without revealing names. 

NATO chief attacks EU peace plan 

In the meantime, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer added to the confusion, attacking the peace plan brokered by the EU representatives on 8 September. He said it was “not acceptable” because in his eyes it cedes too much ground to Moscow. 

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday (14 September), De Hoop Scheffer complained that under the peace plan, Russia is permitted to retain a military presence inside South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This, he said, was in direct contravention of an earlier six-point plan brokered by French President Sarkozy on 12 August, which calls for a return to the status quo before the conflict broke out. 

Speaking from the capital of Abkhazia Suhumi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov retorted that De Hoop Scheffer was making “inappropriate and not very responsible” statements on the conflict in Georgia. 

OSCE observers also barred from breakaway regions 

But it appears that the EU monitoring mission is not alone in facing uncertainty. Confidential documents seen by the Associated Press in Vienna revealed that Russian forces and their separatist militia allies are also keeping OSCE monitors out of South Ossetia. 

The Kremlin’s actions at the OSCE “throw into question the sincerity” of Moscow’s overall commitment to allowing international monitors in and pulling back itself, a senior Western diplomat was quoted as saying on Friday (12 September). 

Read more with Euractiv

EU peace mission to Georgia up in the air

Controversy erupted yesterday (10 September) over the terms of an EU-sponsored mission to Georgia, as Moscow refused to allow European ceasefire monitors to observe the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions now officially recognised by Russia.