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8/16/08

DW: EU Minister Calls for Closer Russia Ties After Caucasus War

For the complete report from the Deutsche Welle click on this link

EU Minister Calls for Closer Russia Ties After Caucasus War

In an interview with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Asselborn the DW asked: "Were the EU foreign ministers in agreement about who is to blame for the conflict? Answer: "No, we avoided the question of blame. If we got bogged down in playing the blame game, we would have lost a lot of time. We would have never agreed on anything and that wouldn't have solved anything anyhow. We are not judges in the European Union. But some countries, the Baltic States and Poland in particular, have clearly demonstrated solidarity with Georgia, while the German foreign minister, for example, warned against judging Russia too quickly. What does this mean then for the planned new strategic partnership agreement between the EU and Russia? I think it would be a fatal mistake to break off this partnership. I do not find it 100 percent bad that the Baltic States and Poland have taken this stance. But you could still see and feel that the EU presidency -- currently held by France, it could have been another country speaking on behalf of the European Union -- is calling the shots."

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