EUROPE AND SOUTH OSSETIA

Only 75’000 people live in South Ossetia. Nevertheless it might very well become one of the most controversial hot spots of this decade.
How should Europe react to the problem? Mainly, Europe will need to start speaking with one voice. At the moment we see Britain, France and Germany saying nothing actually helpful. Chancellor Merkel’s spokesman demanded "an immediate stop to any use of force” - This statement certainly will not end the escalating crisis.
PA reports that UK Foreign secretary (and wannabe PM) David Miliband fears that the conflict might spread to other parts of the region (as it has happened by now, with Russia sending troops to Abkhazia). But he does not seem to have a plan to solve this problem (surprise, surprise!).
The best idea comes from one of the new EU members: Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called for an emergency EU summit to debate the war in Georgia. This is indeed the best idea so far. At some sort of special European Council the EU leaders could come up with a common resolution and bring peace to the troubled region.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt agrees with his Polish colleague and demands a "very strong response" from the EU. In order to present such a response a meeting of the EU leaders will be necessary.
This Council (the official name for meeting of EU leader) would have to be organised by the French, as they hold the EU presidency at the moment. But this meeting could be highly confrontational, as EU countries have very different approaches to the problem. On one hand you have the Sweden, several central-eastern republics and the Baltic countries, which strongly support Georgia. On the other hand you have France and Germany, two countries that keep relatively quiet about the entire problem. Nevertheless, the EU will be able to reach a common South Ossetian/Abkhazia policy.
Would Russia and Georgia stop bombing each other after the EU comes up with a statement? Probably not. But at least the EU would have a common negotiation basis. A Europe speaking with one voice has a far better chance to solve the problem that any other country, including the USA.
Schreiber