Sarkozy to urge Moscow to pull back

Reports of the results of the informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union ('Gymnich'), Avignon, 5-6 September 2008, and preview of visit by EU leaders to Moscow, 8 September 2008.

The EU must open the door to a rapprochement with Belarus and support reconstruction and peace in Georgia and Moldova if it is to counter Russia's growing assertiveness in eastern Europe, EU foreign ministers said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy in his position as current EU President, accompanied by José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, and Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, went to Moscow to deliver the message that Russia must abide by the terms of a six-point peace accord brokered by the French leader in August 2008.

France: EU Presidency: Press Release, 6.9.08: Results of the informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union http://www.eu2008.fr/impressionPDFf4a3.pdf?url=%2FPFUE%2Flang%2Fen%2Faccueil%2FPFUE-09_2008%2FPFUE-06.09.2008%2Fgymnich_des_5_et_6_septembre

France24, 6.9.08: EU calls for Georgia probe, backs observer mission http://www.france24.com/en/20080906-eu-backs-observer-mission-calls-international-conflict-probe-georgia-caucasus&navi=EUROPE

Russia Today, 6.9.08: EU pins hopes on Sarkozy’s trip to Moscow http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/30041

Deutsche Welle, 7.9.08: EU Looks for Ties in Russia's Backyard after Georgia War http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3623489,00.html

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