The Caucasus effect: Europe unblocked

The Caucasus effect: Europe unblocked

"The Caucasus effect: Europe unblocked

The aftershocks of the Caucasus war are provoking European governments into surprising and even imaginative reactions. Turkey and Ukraine are at the heart of the process, says Krzysztof Bobinski

The headlines in Poland's main daily newspapers were unanimous. Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Moscow and Tbilisi on 8 September 2008 to seek assurances from the Russians that they would withdraw their troops to the positions they held before the outbreak of war with Georgia on 7-8 August was a failure. 'Sarkozy failed to take the Kremlin', declared one; 'Russia dictates to Europe', proclaimed another; 'Sarkozy defeated. Peace with Georgia possible only on Russia's terms', shouted a third."