EU delays economic, political talks with Russia

EU calls for Georgian sovereignty
Germany relies on Russia for 34 percent of its oil imports and 36 percent of its natural gas consumption. Slovakia, Finland and Bulgaria depend on Russia for more than 90 percent of the gas that heats homes, cooks meals and powers factories.

The Europeans appeared to focus more on bolstering Georgia. The draft statement called for a free trade pact with Georgia, visa-free travel and reconstruction aid.

It said a “peaceful and lasting” solution to the conflict in Georgia must be based on respect for the country’s sovereignty and borders.

“Each state in Europe has a right to determine freely its foreign policy and its alliances” — an apparent reference to Moscow’s fierce opposition to Georgia’s bid to join NATO.

On Aug. 7, Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia, hoping to retake the province, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s. Russian forces repelled the offensive and pushed into Georgia. Both sides signed a cease-fire deal in mid-August, but Russia has ignored its requirement for all forces to return to prewar positions.

Moscow has insisted the cease-fire accord lets it run checkpoints in security zones of up to 4 miles into Georgian territory.

Possible EU actions against Russia include a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi — a Russian city near the Georgian border — or holding off on talks for a broader economic partnership with Moscow.

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