EU suspends talks on Russia pact

European Union leaders have agreed to suspend talks on a new partnership agreement with Moscow. Brussels is conditioning this with Russian troops withdrawal from Georgia. EU suspends talks on Russia pact EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was clear it could not "continue as if nothing had happened", after an emergency summit in Brussels. The EU also condemned Russia's move to recognize the independence of Georgia's regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia said the talks suspension had damaged the credibility of the bloc. "It is more of a self-punishment for the European Union because this does not improve the EU's credibility as a negotiating partner," Russia's envoy to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the EU and the US that further support for Georgia would be a "historic" mistake. Lavrov also called for an embargo on arms supplies to Tbilisi until a different government was in place there. The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, meanwhile said it was prepared to send hundreds of civilian monitors to Georgia to check if Russia was abiding by the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement. Speaking after EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss the crisis, Barroso and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced they had agreed to postpone talks on an EU-Russia partnership deal. He said that after the Russian invasion of Georgia, NATO membership was no longer a cost-free option The timing of the talks, originally scheduled for mid-September, would depend on Russian forces moving back to their pre-7 August positions, he added. Sarkozy, whose country is the current holder of the EU presidency, said the crisis meant the bloc had to re-examine its relationship with Russia. "The EU would welcome a real partnership with Russia, which is in the interests of all, but you have to be two to have a partnership," he said. The French president also announced that he would visit Moscow on Monday along with Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana for a "crucial" meeting with the Russian government. A joint statement from the EU summit said the European Council was gravely concerned by the "disproportionate reaction of Russia" in Georgia, and called on other states not to follow Russia's lead by recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. "We are convinced that it is in Russia's own interest not to isolate itself from Europe," it added. There was also a strong signal of support for Georgia, with EU-wide backing for a donors' conference for reconstruction, the promise of a free trade area and fewer travel restrictions on its citizens. To coincide with the summit, Georgians held several rallies across their country and in other European capitals, at which they called for further Western support and assistance.

EU suspends talks on Russia pact

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was clear it could not "continue as if nothing had happened", after an emergency summit in Brussels.

The EU also condemned Russia's move to recognize the independence of Georgia's regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia said the talks suspension had damaged the credibility of the bloc.

"It is more of a self-punishment for the European Union because this does not improve the EU's credibility as a negotiating partner," Russia's envoy to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the EU and the US that further support for Georgia would be a "historic" mistake.

Lavrov also called for an embargo on arms supplies to Tbilisi until a different government was in place there.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, meanwhile said it was prepared to send hundreds of civilian monitors to Georgia to check if Russia was abiding by the EU-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Speaking after EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss the crisis, Barroso and French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced they had agreed to postpone talks on an EU-Russia partnership deal.

He said that after the Russian invasion of Georgia, NATO membership was no longer a cost-free option

The timing of the talks, originally scheduled for mid-September, would depend on Russian forces moving back to their pre-7 August positions, he added.

Sarkozy, whose country is the current holder of the EU presidency, said the crisis meant the bloc had to re-examine its relationship with Russia.

"The EU would welcome a real partnership with Russia, which is in the interests of all, but you have to be two to have a partnership," he said.

The French president also announced that he would visit Moscow on Monday along with Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana for a "crucial" meeting with the Russian government.

A joint statement from the EU summit said the European Council was gravely concerned by the "disproportionate reaction of Russia" in Georgia, and called on other states not to follow Russia's lead by recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"We are convinced that it is in Russia's own interest not to isolate itself from Europe," it added.

There was also a strong signal of support for Georgia, with EU-wide backing for a donors' conference for reconstruction, the promise of a free trade area and fewer travel restrictions on its citizens.

To coincide with the summit, Georgians held several rallies across their country and in other European capitals, at which they called for further Western support and assistance.