The 2009 Czech presidency of the EU and the Eastern partnership

"The 2008 invasion of Georgian Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia regions was a violent reminder to Europe of the “near abroad“ vision Russia developed of its western neighborhood."

Distrust between the EU, NATO, USA towards Russia has its own story, over simplified nowadays, but forget the context of one of the biggest economic crises the world ever lived (2007 financial crisis), how out of some despair the US and the EU for its economic weakening and the ongoing war on terror become paranoid about security and increasingly saw Russia not as a partner but as a opponent. Also one should not forget the Eastern Partnership was envisioned by some of the most russophobic EU members, Poland and Sweden, a huge mistake that just increased distrust and disbelieve in Moscow towards the real intentions of the EU. Also the climate was specially poised by the delaying in getting the allowances to built the Nord Stream from Finland, Sweden and Denmark, although support was given since 2005 by the EU.

We are today victims in big part of those mistakes. Specially because in 2007 the US was lying about the bases in Bulgaria and Romania, and the Russians already new about the deals. Even with Russia saying the knew, the US keep lying.

Now Russia did not invade South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2008. You have to correct it, please. Russian peacekeepers were stationed in both separatist republics since the 90's. When georgian troops stormed South Ossetia, not just they did it against all international accords, they bombed the russian military there, that triggered a violent response from Russia, that invaded the center of Georgia cutting the country in two. There was a EU finding commission that clarified all these events.

The Russians become specially paranoid with the suspicions that the 2008 war was planned by NATO.

Russia then recognised these 2 Republics, and in 2009 the EU and US were particularly preoccupied that more countries would recognise these republics. One of the goals of this 2009 summit was to pressure Belarus not to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

It is clear nowadays that georgians blame Saakashvili, the georgian president back then, in part for these events.

The first summit in May 2009 was followed by the November 2009 monetary crisis, that almost imploded the EU, when it was finally over in 2012, the EU had to streentning it self. There has been the belief that in expanding the EU would get stronger.

These 2 events, the financial crises in 2007-2009 and the euro monetary crisis in 2009-2012 weaken the role of the EU, US and several internal institutions. New fora appeared like the BRICS and G20. And by 2011 it was clear the rise of China.

The 2009 Czech presidency of the EU and the Eastern partnership - commentaires

The 2009 Czech presidency of the EU and the Eastern partnership