The European Union is “wholly united” on the central issues of condemning Russian action in South Ossetia and arranging humanitarian aid for Georgia, the PM has said.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the emergency EU Council in Brussels, Mr Brown said it was imperative that French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s six-point plan be implemented as soon as possible. He said he expected the EU to act with “unity of purpose” over the crisis that has strained Russia’s relations with the West.
The Prime MInister said he wished for “good relations” with Russia but that it could not be “business as usual” unless the situation in Georgia and South Ossetia improved. Russia was guilty of a “violation of international law” by recognising South Ossetia as independent and continuing a “policy of aggression”.
The UK has already provided £2 million in humanitarian aid to Georgia and will look also to help with reconstruction, free trade agreements and visa processing for Georgian nationals, he said.
Ahead of the meeting, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, also announced the EU would be sending hundreds of civilian monitors to Georgia.
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