Monday, August 18, 2008

Javier Solana should be sacked!

What a mess the EU has got itself into over Georgia. The Spanish socialist Javier Solana, who has always operated so far out of his depth in the imbroglio for what passes as EU external affairs, possibly haunted by his earlier experiences with Serbia as civilian head of NATO, has brought the world to the brink of its gravest security crisis for many years. This blog warned of the almost inevitable consequences, here, here, here, here , here and here. Among the questions asked and points stressed were these: "Is Solana co-ordinating the EU Foreign and Security Policy or what?" "Russia also opposes Kosovan independence, saying the new state's split from Serbia would force it to reconsider its own position on territorial disputes." My contribution to a discussion thread in today's Telegraph to an article by Janet Daley, linked here, is as follows: "We should best seek to influence only where we have the wherewithal. The EU has gravely erred over Kosovo and as I repeatedly blogged last February the consequences will be severe. The fault lies with the High Representative Javier Solana and the best starting point for the EU to at least begin to recoup matters would be to take the necessary urgent steps for his summary removal. David Miliband would be best employed in gaining support for such a move from his EU colleagues rather than rushing off to Georgia. The pretence that the Lisbon Treaty can be salvaged and the ongoing push for a diplomatic corps and identity (impossible under Nice) further complicates the chaos caused by the existing contradictions between the role of the EU Presidency, the EU Commission and the High Representive. We are part of the EU that has largely caused this mess, we should be working through the EU to clear that portion up before considering how we can thereafter proceed through Nato, the UN or other security bodies. One other thought, will there be any consequences for the Georgian President's TV posturing with the EU flag? If not, why not?" The video of Solana's personal involvement in the creation of the disputed independent territory, never unanimously agreed by EU member states can be seen from the link to yet another of my February 2008 postings here.

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