European Parliament recommendation to the
Council on
the new EU-Russia agreement (2008/2104(INI))
The European Parliament ,
(…)
E. whereas Russia's disproportionate
counter-attack, triggered by the Georgian troops entering South Ossetia and
extended to the other Georgian territories with the use of armour
and air power, as well as the unprovoked military action in Abkhazia, including
attacks on and the occupation of Georgian seaports, followed by the recognition
of the two break-away enclaves, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, puts a question
mark on Russia's readiness to build, together with the EU, a common space of
security in Europe; whereas the further development of the EU's partnership
with Russia needs to include a significant dialogue on security, based on the
commitments of both partners to their shared values, respect for international
law and territorial integrity and commitment to and obligations under the
Helsinki Charter,
F. whereas the negotiations on a new agreement
aimed at enhancing cooperation between the EU and the Russian Federation in no
way legitimise the current status quo in Georgia,
while the obligation for Russia to implement fully the agreements signed on 12
August and 8 September 2008 with regard to the conflict in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia remains valid, since its compliance with those agreements should be a
sine qua non for the successful completion of the talks, which should include a
renunciation by all parties of the use of force against neighbouring
countries,
(…)
b) insist on the fact that the violation by Russia of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and its role in the gas
dispute at the beginning of 2009 have seriously endangered relations between
the EU and Russia and the negotiations on the new agreement;
c) insist that the EU's relationship with Russia must be
based on respect for the rule of international law and all binding agreements
and treaties to which Russia and EU Member States adhere, including the UN
Charter, the ECHR and the ECT, as well as the rules and commitments incumbent
on members of the OSCE and Council of Europe;
(…)
z) call on the Russian Government to demonstrate its
commitment to resolving in a constructive and peaceful manner, together with
Georgia and the EU, the "modalities of security and stability in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia" as agreed in the agreement of 12 August 2008; call on
the Russian Government to provide tangible assurances that Russia will not
resort to the use of force against any of its neighbours;
(…)
w) establish a clear code of conduct governing relations
between the EU, Russia and the countries of the shared neighbourhood,
including provisions relating to respect for the sovereign independence of all
European states, a commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and a
determination to resolve frozen conflicts;
(…)
aa)
raise concerns with the Russian Government regarding its decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign states,
to sign military-assistance and cooperation agreements with the de facto
authorities of those two Georgian provinces and to establish military bases
there, since these steps undermine the territorial integrity of Georgia as insisted
upon by the relevant UN resolutions; call on Russia once again to reverse its
decision and maintain that Russia cannot be regarded as an impartial moderator
in the peace process; urge the Russian Government to ensure that EU monitors
are granted full access to all areas affected by the conflict, in compliance
with the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission;
(…)
2 April, 2009.
(http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.)