Michal Hudec comments (not only EU) politics

South Ossetia: New EU’s chance to build defense identity

Posted by mmisso on 11/08/08

Since the most recent weekend the security environment on the periphery of Europe has changed. Russian armed forces not only operate in breakaway region of South Ossetia, but in Georgia as well. The explanations of Moscow’s steps vary from act of aggression to example of how hard foreign policy can be made.

If I interpret recent events in Georgia, I would say that Kremlin behaves like classical superpower and its steps are shaped by international relations theory called School of Realism. The situation is more that favorable: Russian “peacekeeping” contingents are present in area as early as 90s, state economy allows President Dmitrij Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to lead military operations like those and since collapse of soviet era Moscow feels stronger than never before.

On the other hand, what will be the reply of EU? Will we be effective in bringing solutions of crisis management and realizing them as well? 90s showed that EU is probably the superpower in matter of providing humanitarian aid, but on the other hand, removing aftermaths of bloody conflicts becomes relevant only if the ceasefire was settled. In 90s neither Brussels nor any member state alone was able to enforce peace in Western Balkans. US a NATO did so.

Europe stands before similar situation now: it must react to conflict on its own periphery. Commissioner Louis Michel promised humanitarian aid worthy of million euro for civilian victims in Georgia, but is it enough? I think this time offers more. It is favor not only for bringing Russian solutions, but European ones as well. It is opportunity for EU to learn how to speak with single voice in matter of hard power and Community’s opportunity to become security actor able to challenge Russia. In other words, it is chance of ours to build own defense identity.

Russia matters
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eslaporte

Comment by eslaporte | 2008/08/22 at 00:45:17

First of all, the people of South Ossetia are being left out here. Even now, the BBC and other Western media outlets, that were slanted toward the Georgia side during te conflict, are both acknowledging that the conflict was started by Georgia and that the people of South Ossetia are grateful for “Russian aggression” that put a stop to the Georgia military rampage.

So, what if it IS true that the “Russian aggression” stopped violence against the South Ossetians by the Georgian military?

Doesn’t Europe care about the South Ossetians, too?

What we should be alarmed by is that there appears to be no balance here. David Miliband, who used his time at a ministers’ meeting to bash “Russian aggression” without regard as to who actually started the conflict. And- MEPs heard from the Georgian Foreign Minister without hearing from a Russian official.

We should be concerned that the early September ministers’ meeting will result in East Europeans using “sovietization” policies to want to “punish Russia. There is NO rational reason why the new partnership agreement with Russia cannot be hammered out. There is a rational voice in the German FM, Frank Steineier, who rightful believes that it is counterproductive to wall Russia out of the EU now. In fact, the Union should deepen its relationship with Russia, as well as other nations in the region.

On the subject of European defense, I support a totally independent-from NATO defense and security policy for Europe. My feeling is that NATO provocative and its expansion is counterproductive. NATO also serves the purpose of keeping ESDP chained to NATO, usually with cries of “not duplicating NATO assets.” The “permanent structured cooperation” in the Lisbon Treaty should give a need boost to ESDP. European defesen idenity MUST NOT be defined to “challange Russia,” nor should Russia be defeined as “the enemy of Europe.”

The sane and rational voice of the German FM should be listen to, at least. Let me remind you that world peace cannot be safeguarded with out the making of creative efforts – and in the case of Russia – we MUST make creative efforts here!

Young European of Slovak nationality. Interested in politics, international relations ICT and social media. He fell in love with mountains (very important information, at all). more.

South Ossetia: New EU’s chance to build defense identity

One Response to South Ossetia: New EU’s chance to build defense identity »»