Security on the ground and an agreement from both sides are needed for the European Union to consider the possibility of contributing to a potential new peacekeeping mission to Abkhazia, European diplomats said on July 9.
Neither of these two conditions, however, is present yet.
Peter Semneby, the EU’s special envoy for the South Caucasus, was sent to Georgia by the EU foreign police chief, Javier Solana, following the recent flare up of tensions both in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The EU diplomat said at a news conference in Tbilisi on July 9 that “the most important and immediate task” for the moment was “to make sure that very disturbing series of developments that we had in last few weeks does not continue.”
“Further violence in the tense situation can of course lead to further destabilization and this is something that we are taking very seriously,” he said.
Georgia has been asking EU to engage more actively in the conflict resolution process, including a possible peacekeeping role.
Eric Fournier, the French ambassador in Tbilisi, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, however, made it clear at the same press conference that security on the ground was essential before EU involvement in any new peacekeeping arrangement could even be discussed.
“One man working for the UN [a national staff member of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia] was killed in Gali [blast on July 6],” he said. “So when you talk about sending new and more international forces, we have first to deal with security of the UNOMIG personnel who are already working on the field.”
And Semneby added: “It is not realistic to expect that the European Union will engage in a hostile environment.”
“In order for any new peacekeeping format to come into place, the parties should make a request, should agree. Such a request may of course follow after period of discussions and negotiations, but I want to underline here that we are talking about a hypothetical issue here,” the EU’s special envoy said.
“But at the same time, if there is a request, if there is an interest I believe that the European Union, given the importance that we pay to Georgia and to this region, would be willing to consider making a contribution,” he added.
Semneby, however, pointed out on the Abkhaz side’s strong opposition to attempts to change the current Russian-led peacekeeping operation in the region.
“The Abkhaz side at this moment considers that presence of the Russian peacekeepers is essential for its security,” he said. “I am not making a statement whether it is correct or not, I am just saying that this is a perception and a view of the other side, which needs to be taken into account.”
He, however, also added it did not mean that the existing peacekeeping arrangement “should not be evolved.”
He then outlined what he called three major “convictions” on which the EU’s involvement in the region was based.
“There is no alternative to direct talks between the Georgian and Abkhaz and Georgian and South Ossetian sides,” Semneby said. “International facilitation is useful and essential in order to create the right kind of enabling atmosphere for such direct contacts to take place.”
“The EU’s involvement is also based on the conviction that it is necessary to acknowledge and deal with the most important and existential concerns of the parties,” he continued and added that in the case of the Abkhaz side, such “existential concern” was security and self-determination and in the case of the Georgian side – the right of return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
“EU’s involvement is also based on the convictions that it is imperative to involve the Russian Federation in the constructive way in resolution of the conflicts,” the EU’s special envy said.
Although he said it was mostly Tbilisi and Moscow’s responsibility to improve ties, he said the EU believed it also had “the possibility to facilitate” Russia’s “constructive involvement” in the process of conflict resolution.
Semneby said that although there were significant differences between the positions of Tbilisi and Moscow, there also was “a level where we should be able to find common interests.”
“Ultimately, stability in this region should be obviously in Georgia and also in Russia’s interest,” he said. “As an example, the Sochi Olympics may seem far away – it’s almost six years – but fact that the planning and preparations for the Sochi Olympic are already underway, should underline this joint interest of stability.”