国际英语新闻：EU shelves sanctions against Russia to avoid internal divisions

BRUSSELS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- An extraordinary European Union summit shelved sanctions against Russia on Monday to cover internal divisions, but the 27-nation bloc agreed to postpone meetings on negotiations of a partnership agreement.

    "Until troops have withdrawn to the positions held prior to Aug.7, meetings on the negotiation of the Partnership Agreement will be postponed," said a conclusion issued after the summit ended following hours of discussions on the situation in Georgia and ties with Russia.

The conclusion said that the crisis in Georgia "puts the relationship between the EU and Russia at a crossroads."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L front) enters the venue for a special EU summit on Georgia with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R front) at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Sep, 1, 2008

    French President and current EU President Nicholas Sarkozy, together with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and top diplomat Javier Solana, will visit Moscow on Sept. 8 to "continue discussions toward a full implementation of the agreement on six points" with Russian leaders.

    It said that the union "will remain vigilant, the European Council asks the council, with the commission, to conduct a careful in-depth examination of the situation and of the various aspects of the EU-Russia relations."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) talks with Luxemburg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker during a special EU summit on Georgia at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Sep, 1, 2008

This evaluation must begin now and continue in the run-up to the forthcoming summit scheduled to take place in Nice on Nov. 14.

    The EU remains deeply divided over whether to punish Russia, which was charged by the West as using "disproportionate reaction" to Georgia's military offensive in South Ossetia.

    Old EU members, like Germany, France and Italy, are opposed to any sanctions to their major energy supplier and important trading partner.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski (L) attends a special EU summit on Georgia with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Sep, 1, 2008.

France, the current presidency of the EU, tried hard before the summit to avoid talking about punitive actions on Russia as some members such as Britain, Poland and other Eastern European members pushed for.

    Aside from sanctions, the bloc managed to speak in one voice in condemning Russia for its recognition of the independence of the two breakaway regions of Georgia and urging it to fully implement a France-brokered ceasefire deal with Georgia.

    The leaders of member states strongly condemned "the unilateral decision of Russia to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," saying that the decision was unacceptable, calling on other states not to recognize the independence of the two regions.

    They also reached consensus on aid for Georgia and strengthening relations with the former Soviet republic.

    The EU "is prepared to provide assistance to reconstruction in Georgia, including in areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," the conclusion said.

    It decided to strengthen its relationship with Georgia, including through facilitation of visas and the possible establishment of a free trade area and complete depth as soon as conditions are met.

    The leaders agreed that the EU to deploy a civilian mission in South Ossetia by the middle of October and make "substantial material and financial contributions for Georgia's reconstruction."

    The summit decided to appoint an EU special representative for the crisis in Georgia and urges the council to make the necessary arrangements.