Russia must not start new cold war, Miliband warns
Wednesday, 27 Aug 2008 21:02
Foreign secretary David Miliband in Ukraine today seeking "coalition" against Russian support for Georgia break-up
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Foreign secretary David Miliband has warned Russia it has a "responsibility" not to start a new cold war.
Speaking in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Mr Miliband said Moscow had to avoid the "temptations of power politics" in its dealings with Georgia.
Yesterday Russia announced it would recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia, angering the Foreign Office and other members of the international community.
Mr Miliband said this development marks the end of a period of "growing geopolitical calm in and around
Europe" and means countries have to lay out where they stand on international law.
He told Russia it can expect "economic and political losses" as a result of its short-term military gains and that, with "underinvestment and inequality rampant", it cannot afford to "live in isolation in a globalised world".
Mr Miliband does not advocate isolating Russia from the world but instead prefers "hard-headed engagement".
He said Britain would be willing to help Ukraine to eventual membership of the European Union in addition to joining Nato, backing its commitment to democracy in recent years.
The foreign secretary's speech came after he met with Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko, as well as prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and foreign minister Vladimir Ogryzko.
The Ukrainians have a tense relationship with Russia at present thanks to the presence of Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Crimea, which has been used in operations against Georgia in the recent conflict. Its lease expires in 2017.
Mr Yushchenko's links with Britain are strong at present after a successful visit to London earlier this year, in which he courted British support for Ukrainian entry into Nato.
And with Britain being a vociferous supporter of a more confrontational policy with Russia than other European countries like France and Germany, today's visit has continued the two countries' harmonious relations.
British politicians are united on a hard-nosed attitude to Russia, with Conservative leader David Cameron saying today Britain has to "confront" Russia's "aggression".
Speaking about Russian recognition of the independence of Georgian breakaway provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Mr Cameron continued: "It goes completely against a set of United Nations resolutions that they themselves voted for."
Saying the Russian response was "wholly disproportionate", Mr Cameron even suggested Russia had orchestrated events in the South Caucasus, which began when Georgia shelled South Ossetia.
"There was a series of provocations… so the Russians could do probably what they wanted to do," Mr Cameron told the BBC.