Ossetia-Georgia: the 27 decided to act. What was said in Brussels

(BRUSSELS2 at the Justus Lipsius) The French presidency of the Union had not really planned any conclusions at the start for the exceptional Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 27, which took place on 13 August. The objective was rather to report on the various meetings in the region.

During the preparatory meetings of the Cops (Security Policy Committee) and Coreper (EU ambassadors), which had taken place the day before, on 12 August, the discussions had not, moreover, taken as a basis common conclusions. But the haste of events on the ground, as well as the many dissonant voices that were heard at European level, changed the situation. It is above all the agreement obtained from the two belligerents, in Moscow by Nicolas Sarkozy, and in Tbilisi by Bernard Kouchner on six principles of a ceasefire (let us call them principles rather than a peace plan) which made it possible to have content to a joint statement (read: Ossetia-Georgia: the six principles of the ceasefire). Written in the night and in the early morning by French diplomats (helped by Europeans), a text was thus able to be presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting exceptionally in the middle of August in Brussels.

Everyone was there (or almost)

In the middle of August, the extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs was indeed something surreal. In deserted buildings, due to summer vacation, all the Ministers were there, or almost. Only the Italian Frattini (who had preferred to stay on vacation in the Maldives) was absent (but he was replaced by his Secretary of State, Enzo Scotti, a veteran of Christian Democracy) as well as the Maltese. Ireland was represented by its Development Minister, Peter Power. The objective was clear: above all to show the public (to the belligerents and to the rest of the world) a European united front (or at least a semblance of unity).

Objective: Silence the dissonances

If the result - "common" conclusions - could give rise to a smile, make no mistake about it. This two-page text (download here) has at least one merit: not to silence the differences of viewpoints but at least to tone down the most glaring dissonances. Between on one side, a British minister, David Milliband, qualifying at the entrance of the Council of " war crime » the action of the Russians, the Baltics or Poles always ready to do battle (orally) with the Russians; and on the other side, Germans or Italians ready to pass the towel to the Russians, there was indeed, at the start of the session, a hiatus. But, outside the cameras, everyone wanted to be more conciliatory. In fact, many phone calls had been exchanged between the main capitals, especially between Paris and Berlin, to iron out any difficulties. As Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg explained before he left for Brussels: "This is a time when Europe really needs to adopt a common resolution. There is absolutely no point in all countries showing different positions. And Ursula Plasnik, Austrian Minister, recalled the past: "We have no interest in repeating the political and human tragedy of the Balkans in the Caucasus".

A discussion easier than expected

Each Minister of course explained his sensitivity to the problem. Milliband thus calmly explained the need to respect international law. The Balts asked that the Georgian Foreign Minister - who was hanging out in the corridors of the Council - be received in the Council (request refused, it is "not the custom" (2) replied Kouchner and it would also be missed in our concern "toimpartiality"). The Pole Sikorsky reiterated a request to convene a European Summit (heads
of State and Government) exceptional, provoking a silence of all the members of the room (which is equivalent to a unanimous refusal).

But the discussion on the text of the conclusions was "quite simple and easy", according to a diplomat present in the room. And also quick: three hours of Council to approve conclusions, it is quite simply, at 27, the possibility for each country to express its point of view and to ask for some Some points that appeared at the end of the text have thus been brought back to the top (such as the reminder of the principles of the independence and sovereignty of Georgia). A request in particular from Milliband, the Briton. Others have been accentuated .As the request for an international mission "Fast" (a Belgian request in particular).

The idiocy of the Georgians, the brutality of the Russians

Several Ministers considered that the game played by the Georgian government was " idiot as summarized by the Belgian Karel de Gucht. " A real bullshit clarified, aside, another. But the reaction disproportionately of the Russians and the dangerous game Led was similarly criticized. It is this concern for balance that has prevailed. By avoiding pointing an accusing finger too much at the Russians. For Frans Timmermans, the Dutch State Secretary for European Affairs, " it is useless to pose as an accuser; the first thing to do is to put an end to the conflict. We're putting out the fire ».

In the text, the 27 thus recall, on the one hand, the " full respect of sovereignty and "territorial integrity of Georgia, without specifically incriminating the Russians. On the other, they take up the six principles, approved by the two belligerents, during the mediation mission carried out on the spot by Bernard Kouchner and Nicolas Sarkozy.

A (limited) European intervention on the ground

Above all, the 27 showed themselves ready to “commit” more to supporting peace, “including on the ground”. However, the format of this commitment remains very vague "Observers" or "Controllers", " no matter the name commented Bernard Kouchner, during the press conference that followed the advice (listen to the video). Peacekeeping forces, there is no question for the moment, as well as the intervention of one of the Battlegroups - the rapid reaction force of the European Union (1). My question made Kouchner smile and roll his eyes.

Too early. "One step after another"explained Bernard Kouchner. "The important thing is step by step to wrest this territory from the war and put an end to the atrocities (...) the troops of each camp must move aside, return to their barracks or cross the border again (for the Russians ). Then we have to guarantee the ceasefire. Then (we will see for the) political discussions". In the immediate term, therefore, it would be more about "reinforce the corps of observers already present in the region. They are not enough“explained Bernard Kouchner. "They are currently 200 in number and we need a hundred more“, specified to the Finnish press Alexander Stubb, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs (and president-in-office of the OSCE).

The strengthening of the EU mechanism in the region

The last meeting of the EU's Political and Security Committee (3), at the end of July, before the summer break, discussed Georgia, and the growing risks, and mentioned the strengthening of the EU Special Representative on the spot, the one also of the Commission delegation, as well as the resources of Sitcen (the EU intelligence centre) on the region. These measures could be among the first measures implemented.

And now !

First, a Security Council mandate must be obtained from the un. " most quickly possible hope the Europeans. A draft resolution must be presented - under Belgian Presidency of the Security Council - by the French on behalf of the European Union.

Then, the European specialists must evaluate several avenues of intervention (the work has already started at the Kortenberg, the building of the EU General Staff in Brussels). These avenues will be tested, discreetly and informally, with the belligerents, in order to ensure that they are possible. A meeting of the EU Political and Security Committee (Cops) is scheduled for 26 August on the subject.

Finally, it will be up to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to decide on the format chosen. The informal meeting (the gymnich), of Avignon, the 5th & 6th September could be the occasion for a first decision. At this "gymnich", too, we should address the question of what to do with the Russians (sanctions or retaliatory measures as demanded by the British and the Baltics above all).

(NGV)

(1) The Franco-German-Belgian-Spanish Battlegroup is on duty this semester (with another British group). Read : Eufor Philemis

(2) Which is indeed the case. Only Member States participate in the Council. This does not prevent the presidency from receiving, on the sidelines of the Council, certain Ministers. which was the case here. The Georgian minister being received by Solana and Kouchner.

(3) The COPS is made up of the ambassadors of the 27 specialists in diplomacy and defence. Its purpose is to prepare the most strategic or confidential cases in terms of EU defense action. It is this authority, for example, which gave the "diplomatic" green light to the latest European operations in Chad or Kosovo.

Photo credit: Council of the European Union - Solana, Kouchner and Olli Rehn at the press conference, August 13 - Pfue, Kouchner (France) and Luís Amado (Portugal).

NB: a first version (more succinct) of this article appeared in Ouest-France on August 14.