FACTBOX: Leaders reactions to Georgia

Mon Sep 1, 2008 7:15am EDT
 
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(Reuters) - Britain called on Monday for the European Union to suspend talks on a new partnership agreement with Russia in protest against Moscow's military intervention in Georgia.

Russia faced diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia as an emergency summit on Monday is due to issue a tough verbal condemnation of its actions.

Here are details of some leaders reactions over Georgia:

* SILVIO BERLUSCONI:

-- Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi said on Monday Russia was a power to be reckoned with and he did not expect any steps from the Brussels meeting that would "aggravate" the situation.

-- "It still has a nuclear potential able to destroy 10 times the population of the world. It's a country growing at a rate of 7-8 percent a year. It's a country which has oil and gas".

* GORDON BROWN:

-- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Sunday he would press fellow EU leaders to review ties with Russia in retaliation for Moscow's decision to send troops to Georgia and recognize two Georgian breakaway regions.

-- Brown said Russia's intervention in Georgia was dangerous and unacceptable. "In the light of Russian actions, the EU should review -- root and branch -- our relationship with Russia," Brown wrote in a commentary in the Observer newspaper.

* ANGELA MERKEL:

-- German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last Wednesday that the presence of Russian troops in parts of Georgia is a grave violation of the ceasefire deal between the countries.

* NICHOLAS SARKOZY:

-- Sarkozy flew to Moscow and Tbilisi to hammer out a six-point ceasefire deal and France has taken a softer line than other European countries such as Britain.

-- Sarkozy, who spoke with Medvedev last Wednesday, insisted Russian forces that have not yet pulled back to their positions before fighting broke out must do so immediately.

-- The day before, EU president France firmly condemned Russia's recognition of two rebel regions.

-- Sarkozy is ready to revisit Moscow and Tbilisi to help resolve the conflict, France said on Monday.  Continued...

 
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