EUMM Georgia: EU observers, armed and more numerous?
(B2) According to a close associate of Medvedev, the Russian president, the international observers who must deploy in the security zone, near South Ossetia and in Abkhazia "must be armed to carry out police functions and maintain the 'order". This proposal is not new according to Sergei Prikhodko, adviser to the Russian head of state, in a statement reported by the Novosti agency. “During negotiations with Mr. Sarkozy, the Russian president repeatedly said that EU observers should be armed,” he said. Another precision of the presidential adviser: it is necessary to reinforce the mission of the European Union. "The more of them, the better. (...) Far from being allergic to their presence, we are ready to cooperate with them," he added.
A justified idea. This request (supply) could be discussed at the highest level. Medvedev and Sarkozy meet on the sidelines of the World Policy Conference in Evian on October 8. Given the configuration on the ground (between shots against Georgian police and an "attack" against Russian "peacekeepers" in South Ossetia, the format of the mission may appear a little light. And its reinforcement may appear necessary .
New call for papers? Almost the majority of the workforce being military or police, the arming of personnel does not seem to pose a real practical problem. On the increase in staff, this means making a new call for contributions from European countries. But that shouldn't be a problem. In addition to European countries, several neighboring third countries, such as Turkey, had made a service offer. Offer well noted by Javier Solana, the High Representative, who had thus indicated to the Turks that they could undoubtedly participate in a succession.
Other talking points. In the meantime, the Russian forces which have begun to withdraw from the various posts in the security zone will have to fully respect their word. This should also be at the center of the discussions at Evian (with the continuation of international negotiations in Geneva on the situation in the Caucasus, scheduled for October 14-15).
(NGV)
